DHAKA — The Election Commission has decided to rely on postal ballots for Bangladeshi voters living abroad. To carry out voting smoothly, the postal service is working to make contact with 192 countries, following the policies of the Universal Postal Union (UPU). To make the process easier, the postal service has been given a maximum of 28 days and a minimum of eight days to complete the work.
Earlier, a development project proposal worth 48 crore taka had been sent to the Planning Commission to cover costs and related activities. The proposal was returned to the Election Commission with some observations and will be resubmitted after revisions. Out of an estimated 13 million Bangladeshis worldwide, the commission’s target is to complete online registration of 5 million expatriates for the upcoming 13th parliamentary elections.
The information comes from sources in the Election Commission and the postal department.
The UPU is a United Nations specialized agency that works to develop the postal system worldwide, with 192 member countries.
The project to enable voting by overseas Bangladeshis will conclude in June 2027. Its cost, funded by the government, has been set at 48.14 crore taka. The commission has set a goal of completing postal voting for expatriate voters by December of this year. Postal service expenses are separate.
A postal department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the department maintains ties with 192 countries. “The commission has not allocated funds to us, but we are working,” the official said. “Taking distance into account, a maximum of 28 days and a minimum of eight days have been set as targets.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report