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OIC Pledges Support for Expatriate Bangladeshis' Voting Rights
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries have pledged to assist expatriate Bangladeshis in casting their votes in the upcoming parliamentary elections. The commitment came after a meeting between OIC mission heads and election commissioners at the Election Commission (EC) headquarters to discuss preparations for the polls.
Election Commissioner Brigadier General (Retd) Abul Fazl Md Sanaullah confirmed the assurance, stating that the heads of OIC missions stationed in Bangladesh expressed their support to help expatriates exercise their right to vote. "Several of them expressed their willingness to extend their help," he said.
The OIC envoys also suggested the inclusion of overseas election monitoring teams, which the EC welcomed. The election commissioner shared details of the EC's preparations for the 13th parliamentary elections, emphasizing the importance of ensuring transparency.
Regarding the voting process for expatriates, Md Sanaullah revealed that the EC is considering three options: a time-bound postal ballot system, online voting, and proxy voting. However, he clarified that no decision has been made yet and that discussions are ongoing.
Malaysian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Mohd Shuhada Othman offered his country's assistance, particularly sharing experiences related to overseas voting and ensuring free, fair, and credible elections.
The meeting was attended by the Chief Election Commissioner, four election commissioners, the EC secretary, and other senior officials.