For the first time, millions of Bangladeshi expatriates, including migrant workers who play a key role in the country’s economy, will be able to vote in national elections. The Election Commission has taken steps to ensure their participation, a move that has long been overdue in Bangladesh’s electoral process.
The Commission estimates that about 15 million Bangladeshi expatriates live across the Gulf, Europe, the Americas, and Southeast Asia, making up more than 10% of the nation’s total electorate.
To facilitate their participation, the Election Commission will implement a postal ballot system supported by a mobile application called Postal Vote BD.
This initiative is part of wider reforms by Bangladesh’s interim government, which came to power after the mass uprising in 2024 that led to the removal of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League government. Parliamentary elections are scheduled for February 2026.
Experts caution that setting up an overseas voting system will be a complex task. Badiul Alam Majumdar, chief of the electoral reform commission, noted that ensuring authenticity and transparency is crucial, warning that the credibility of the entire election could be questioned if the process is not properly implemented.
Why expatriates couldn’t vote before?
Bangladesh’s constitution does not explicitly bar expatriates from voting. Article 122 requires voters to be citizens of voting age and registered in their constituency. However, a 1982 ordinance required voters to “ordinarily reside” in their constituency, which effectively excluded citizens living abroad.
The Electoral Rolls Act 2009 repealed this restriction, recognising expatriates as residents of their last or ancestral constituency. While the legal right to vote existed, no practical measures were in place to allow them to actually cast their ballots.
How the voting system will work
The Postal Vote BD app, set to launch in early November, will allow expatriates to register and track their ballots. Voters will use their National ID (NID) number, linked to the Election Commission’s server, to determine their constituency.
Postal ballots will be mailed to registered overseas addresses, including a pre-addressed envelope for returning the vote. QR codes on the envelopes will allow voters to confirm delivery and track progress.
Completed ballots will be returned through any post office and sent directly to the local returning officer under arrangements with the Universal Postal Union, without involving embassies.
The Commission has assured that ballots will remain secure, with only the returning officer authorised to open them. Any tampering or interception will be easily detectable.
Expatriates’ role in the 2024 uprising
During the July 2024 uprising, Bangladeshi migrant workers abroad supported the protests by participating in a remittance boycott and sending record funds home, amounting to $30 billion in the following financial year.
Some expatriates also joined rallies in Gulf countries, with over 100 detained in the UAE before being released after the interim government intervened.
Potential impact on the upcoming election
Expatriates represent over 10% of the total electorate, and in some constituencies, they account for nearly one-fifth of voters. Analysts say their participation could influence closely contested races.
The diaspora tends to be politically informed, financially secure, and maintains strong connections to home districts, meaning their votes could also influence community and family voting behaviour.
Concerns and expectations of migrant workers
Many expatriates seek better treatment at airports and embassies, including smoother services, faster document issuance, and protection from harassment.
Migrant workers have expressed frustration over long interrogations, baggage inspections, and dismissive attitudes by embassy staff.
Political parties’ stances on expat voting
National Citizen Party (NCP) plans to secure expatriate voting rights and improve embassy services. Their manifesto emphasizes digital access to public services and direct participation of expatriates in policymaking.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is focused on enhancing the welfare of expatriates, strengthening embassy support, and expanding job and trade opportunities abroad. The party already maintains diaspora committees worldwide to engage overseas voters.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has prioritised expat concerns, including facilitating voting, providing support for complex legal matters, and encouraging investment from expatriates back home.
The inclusion of expatriates in the electoral process marks a significant shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape, creating a new and influential voting bloc that parties will need to engage ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections.
