The Bangladesh Nationalist Party on Tuesday requested the Election Commission to extend the deadline for registering expatriate Bangladeshis as voters to ensure maximum participation in the upcoming national polls.
BNP standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan made the remarks while speaking to reporters after a meeting with chief election commissioner MAM Nasir Uddin at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital.
BNP senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and BNP chairperson’s adviser Ismail Zabihullah were also part of the BNP delegation.
Nazrul Islam said that the BNP had long demanded the protection of voting rights for Bangladeshis living abroad, and welcomed the commission’s steps to facilitate their inclusion.
He said that registration remained difficult in countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates where a large number of Bangladeshis live in remote areas.
‘We have requested an extension of the registration period in these countries so that the highest number of Bangladeshis can be enrolled,’ he said.
The commission assured that its schedule allows for an additional registration window after the main phase ends, to accommodate eligible individuals who might miss the initial deadline, he said.
BNP also proposed that Bangladeshi passports could be accepted as proof of identity for voter enrolment, particularly in countries where issuing new national identity cards has not been possible.
Nazrul Islam acknowledged concerns over fake passports issued in previous years but suggested a verification mechanism.
‘If the passport photograph is sent to the person’s home address for verification and confirmed as genuine, that individual’s name can be added to the voter list. The Election Commission has agreed to consider this, despite time constraints,’ he said.
During the meeting, the commission sought BNP’s cooperation in ensuring a fair and neutral election.
The discussion also touched on the referendum.
Responding to a question on proposals to allocate duties of superintendents of police through a lottery system, Nazrul said that a particular political party had raised the demand, but the BNP was yet to make any decision on the issue.
He said that while duties can be allocated in various ways, roles requiring special expertise should not be left to random selection.
‘The Election Commission may consider the matter, but our party has not taken a position yet,’ the BNP leader said.
