No postal ballot for expatriates: EC

Bangladesh's Election Commission (EC) has completed preparations to begin holding local government elections in phases from October. However, expatriate Bangladeshis will not be able to vote through mobile app-based systems or IT-supported postal ballots in these elections, Election Commissioner Md. Anwarul Islam Sarkar has said.

Speaking to reporters at the EC headquarters in Dhaka on Wednesday (July 22), he said the first phase of the election schedule could be announced within July or August.

According to the commissioner, priority will be given to local bodies that have remained without elected representatives for a long period or whose legal tenure has already expired. Depending on the law and order situation, Upazila and Union Parishad elections may also be held simultaneously in suitable areas.

No postal ballot for local polls
Anwarul Islam Sarkar said that although the EC is working on postal ballot and technology-based voting options for expatriate voters in future national elections, those facilities will not be available for the upcoming local government polls.

He said the elections will be conducted under the existing voting system.

Legal amendments will not delay elections
The election commissioner clarified that proposed amendments to election laws would not delay the polls.

He said recommendations based on experiences from recent national elections are being prepared to remove legal ambiguities. If the amended laws come into effect before the polls, they will be applied; otherwise, elections will be conducted under the existing legal framework.

He also said the review of the electoral code of conduct is almost complete and will soon be sent to the Ministry of Law for final approval.

Graduation requirement under review
Responding to a High Court rule seeking a minimum graduate qualification for Union Parishad chairman candidates, the commissioner said the EC would examine the matter by reviewing existing laws, practices in neighbouring countries and relevant judicial decisions before making any decision.

Strict monitoring to prevent violence
The EC also plans to strengthen monitoring to prevent election-related violence. It will also address existing legal ambiguities regarding the eligibility of city corporation administrators to contest local elections.

Jamaat MP issue
Regarding the expulsion of Jamaat-e-Islami MP Gazi Nazrul Islam from the party, the commissioner said the Election Commission has not yet received any official notification.

He added that the EC would take necessary legal action after receiving the formal communication.
//DBITECH/DJN/NAM//