Bangladesh to allow prisoners to vote in upcoming polls
Election Commission to use digital registration and postal ballots to expand voting access ahead of 13th national elections
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Bangladesh’s Election Commission will, for the first time, allow prisoners, expatriates, and those directly managing polling operations to vote in the upcoming national elections — a landmark decision aimed at widening the country’s democratic participation.
Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin said the reform is part of an effort to ensure that no eligible citizen is excluded from the electoral process. Speaking in Dhaka on Monday, he announced that nearly one million people involved in administering the 13th parliamentary elections — including presiding officers, returning officers, and members of security forces — will be granted the right to vote.
The Commission plans to introduce a digital registration system that will allow these officials to apply through an app, after which ballots will be sent to their registered addresses. The votes will be cast under guidelines designed to maintain security and transparency, according to election authorities.
“This initiative is not just about logistics,” Nasir Uddin said. “It’s about building trust in our democracy. Those who safeguard the voting process must also have their voices heard.”
Analysts note that the move reflects Bangladesh’s broader push toward digital governance and electoral transparency, following years of criticism over voter disenfranchisement and election-day irregularities. The inclusion of prisoners — who have traditionally been barred from participating — is seen as a significant policy shift toward recognising universal suffrage.
Election officials confirmed that Bangladeshi expatriates will also be able to vote remotely for the first time, an addition that could engage millions of overseas citizens contributing to the country’s economy. The government has not yet disclosed how their votes will be counted but indicated that pilot mechanisms are under review.
Nasir Uddin described his role as a “national mission” rather than a routine administrative duty, stressing that the commission’s reforms are intended to leave behind “a more inclusive and democratic Bangladesh.”
The announcement was made during a training event for the Bangladesh Ansar and Village defense Party, attended by senior military and civil officials. The Election Commission said detailed technical guidelines for the new voting mechanism will be released in the coming weeks.
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