EC Extends Postal Voting Registration Deadline to January 5

The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) has extended the deadline for registration and application for postal voting for the final time, setting January 5 as the new cut-off date.

According to official data, as of 4:00 pm on December 30, 2026, more than 1.051 million voters had registered through the Postal Vote BD app.

The information was disclosed in a notification signed on December 30 by Md Mamunur Rashid, Deputy Director of the Department of Films and Publications. The notice stated that the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications is responsible for supplying and collecting postal ballots under the postal voting system.

Meanwhile, questions have emerged over whether the electoral process could be affected following the death of BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, who passed away at 6:00 am on Tuesday, December 30.

Under existing election laws, if a valid candidate in a parliamentary constituency dies or if a candidature is cancelled due to legal complications, the election process in that constituency may be suspended. According to the amended provisions of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972, the Election Commission is required to announce a new election schedule in such circumstances.

Article 17(1) of the RPO, 1972, stipulates that if, after the deadline for withdrawal of candidacy, a duly nominated candidate dies or a candidature is cancelled under Articles 91A or 91E, the Returning Officer must cancel the election proceedings in that constituency through a public notice. In such cases, the Commission must be informed immediately, and a fresh election schedule must be announced in accordance with the law.

DBTech/EK/OR