According to the Department of Prisons, only about seven percent of inmates across Bangladesh are participating in the national election and referendum through postal ballots. Out of approximately 85,000 prisoners nationwide, 5,960 have been approved to vote by post. Assistant Inspector General of Prisons Jannatul Farhad confirmed the information on Friday, noting that inmates from 71 of the country’s 75 prisons registered for postal voting, while four newly established prisons currently have no inmates.

Prison authorities reported that 6,313 prisoners initially registered for postal voting, but after verification and procedural complexities, 5,960 registrations were approved. By Thursday, 3,647 votes had been collected and sent to the respective centers, with the remaining ballots still being processed. The registration process is conducted online, requiring inmates to access candidate lists from their home constituencies, which takes additional time.

Officials added that many prisoners lack national identity cards or show little interest in voting, contributing to the low participation rate. The prison population has risen sharply since the July uprising, with about 85,000 inmates now held in facilities designed for 43,000.