Twelve undertrial male inmates at Kurigram District Jail will be allowed to cast their votes from custody in the 13th parliamentary election scheduled for 12 February.
The inmates are eligible as they are not convicted and are included in the voter roll, which allows them to exercise their franchise under the law through postal ballots.
Jail authorities said verification of voter records found 12 inmates with valid voter information, registered in their respective constituencies and facing no legal barriers to voting, while there are no female voters among the jail population.
Kurigram District Jail Superintendent AG Mahmud confirmed the arrangement, saying preparations have been completed in line with Election Commission directives to ensure the inmates can vote by postal ballot under prison supervision on polling day.
The Kurigram District Election Office said voting rights are legally protected for undertrial inmates who are enrolled as voters, and necessary measures have been taken to facilitate their participation.
Human rights activists said ensuring voting rights for inmates sends a positive message for democracy and reflects the state’s commitment to safeguarding constitutional rights.
Kurigram has four parliamentary constituencies with a total electorate of 1,899,937, including 14 hijra voters across the district.
Ahead of the polls, extensive election preparations are underway across all four constituencies, with initiatives aimed at ensuring voting access for marginalised groups, char dwellers and special-category voters.
