Bangladesh’s Election Commission (EC) announced that 557,695 expatriate citizens have registered to vote through postal ballots in the upcoming national election and referendum. The data, published on the EC’s website as of Sunday noon, shows that 523,086 men and 34,607 women have completed registration via the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app. Registrants come from a wide range of countries including South Korea, Japan, South Africa, China, the United States, and Saudi Arabia.

According to the EC, voters assigned to election duties, government employees stationed outside their constituencies, and those in legal custody can register for postal voting until December 25. The initiative is part of the Out of Country Voting System and Implementation (OCV-SDI) project, led by Salim Ahmad Khan. The EC has urged expatriates to provide accurate addresses during registration to ensure ballot delivery.

This marks a significant step toward expanding electoral participation among Bangladeshis abroad, reflecting the government’s broader goal of integrating overseas citizens into the democratic process. The registration deadline and subsequent voting logistics will test the EC’s capacity to manage remote participation efficiently.