International Desk

Bangladesh, Wednesday, November 27, 2025: More than 51,000 Bangladeshis residing abroad have registered to vote through the postal ballot system, as the country prepares for the 13th national parliamentary election and the upcoming referendum. This marks the first time overseas voting has been enabled for expatriates.

According to the latest data from the Election Commission (EC), a total of 51,533 expatriates completed their registration via the ‘Postal Vote BD’ mobile application as of 10:00 am on Wednesday. Among them, 43,646 are men and 7,887 are women.

The highest number of registrations came from the United States, with 10,335 voters, followed by South Korea with 8,889, Japan with 6,158, Canada with 5,865, Australia with 4,755, South Africa with 4,183, and China with 1,651 registrants.

The Election Commission has now made the app-based registration facility available to all Bangladeshi citizens living in any country. In a statement issued on Wednesday night, the Commission confirmed that the registration window will remain open globally from 12:01 am Bangladesh Standard Time on November 27 until 11:59 pm on December 18.

EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed explained that when the mobile application was initially launched on November 18, expatriates were divided into eight regions, each allocated a five-day registration period. These restrictions have now been removed to facilitate broader participation.

Expatriates can register from anywhere in the world at any time within the designated period. The previous five-day limitation no longer applies, allowing greater flexibility for overseas voters.

Authorities emphasized that including Bangladeshi expatriates in the voting process represents a significant milestone in the country’s electoral history. The initiative aims to strengthen democratic participation by enabling citizens living abroad to exercise their voting rights without geographical constraints.

The postal ballot system allows registered overseas voters to receive and submit their ballots by post, ensuring that their votes are counted alongside domestic ballots during both the national election and the upcoming referendum. The EC has also provided detailed instructions through the mobile application and its official communication channels to ensure a secure and streamlined registration and voting process.

Election officials highlighted that enabling overseas voting reflects the government’s commitment to expanding democratic inclusion and ensuring that all eligible citizens, regardless of residence, have an opportunity to participate in key national decisions. The Commission has urged eligible expatriates to complete their registration within the specified period to ensure their participation in these historic electoral events.

This development is expected to enhance overall voter turnout and provide a more representative outcome in both the 13th parliamentary election and the forthcoming referendum, underscoring the growing role of the Bangladeshi diaspora in the nation’s democratic processes.