DHAKA, Sept 19, 2025: The Election Commission (EC) plans to include about 5 million expatriate Bangladeshis in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, with an estimated cost of Tk 400 crore. Out of nearly 14 million Bangladeshis living in 40 countries, the EC expects at least one-third to take part.
Expatriates will register through a Tk 49 crore app, Postal Vote BD and cast votes via postal ballots, costing around Tk 700 per voter. Ballots will be sent at least 20 days before election day and returned through the postal service.
Chief Election Commissioner A M M Nasir Uddin said the initiative will be launched, at least on trial, in the next polls. Election staff and prisoners will also vote by postal ballot, giving inmates of 71 prisons the chance to vote for the first time.
About 70% of expatriates already have national ID cards. Most live in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Malaysia, the UK, US, and Italy.
