Dhaka has the highest number of registered expatriate voters at 21,094

More than one lakh Bangladeshi expatriates living in 144 countries have registered as voters through the Postal Vote BD app in just 14 days since its launch, ahead of the 13th national election and referendum scheduled for February.

According to an update on the Election Commission's (EC) website this morning at 10:00am, a total of 1,14,503 Bangladeshi expatriates -- 98,472 male and 16,031 female --have registered as voters, and all the applications have already been approved by the EC.

Registration from the United States of America (USA) is leading with 18,038 voters. By district, Dhaka has the highest number of registered expatriate voters at 21,094.

The EC launched the app on November 18, enabling Bangladeshis living abroad to cast their votes for the upcoming election. Once registered, voters will receive ballot papers marked with electoral symbols and can cast their votes by email.

Expatriate voters will not be charged, though the cost per ballot through the Postal Vote BD app will be Tk 700. The EC will send ballot papers to registered voters at their overseas addresses within the set timeframe.

Registration for expatriate Bangladeshis began on November 19 and will continue until December 23, divided into seven regional windows. Bangladeshis in East Asia, South America, and Africa registered between November 19 and 28; North America and Oceania between November 24 and 28; Europe from November 29 to December 3; the Middle East between December 4 and 8; South and Southeast Asia from December 9 to 13; and the Middle East excluding Saudi Arabia from December 14 to 18.

Government officials, election duty officers, and individuals in custody will be able to register between December 19 and 23.