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Ensure expatriates can vote in local government polls: Iran

Published : Friday, 18 September, 2026 at 5:20 PM

Observer online report

Bangladesh Labour Party Chairman Dr Mostafizur Rahman Iran has called for ensuring voting rights for expatriate Bangladeshis in all local government elections.

In a statement on Friday, he said expatriate workers were an important driving force of the country’s economy and that excluding them from voting in local government elections in their home areas would be a major gap in civic participation.

He said local government bodies, including union parishads, upazila parishads, municipalities, city corporations and district councils, were directly linked to people’s daily lives and local development.

Eligible and registered Bangladeshi citizens living abroad should therefore be given the opportunity to participate in electing representatives to these institutions, he said.

Iran said expatriates not only send remittances but also remain closely connected with local communities and economies through their families. Their homes, land, businesses and family interests remain in their respective areas, he added.

He said an initiative had been taken to introduce postal voting for Bangladeshis living abroad in national parliamentary elections and that this experience could be used to establish a practical system for local government elections as well.

According to Iran, technologies such as NID-based identity verification, online registration, postal ballots and ballot tracking could be used to ensure expatriate voters can exercise their voting rights securely.

He also called for necessary amendments to laws and regulations governing local government elections if required.

He said the Election Commission, relevant ministries, Bangladesh missions and consulates abroad, and technology experts could work together to establish an effective and transparent system.

Iran urged the Election Commission to take the necessary legal, administrative and technological measures to enable expatriate voters to participate in local government elections.

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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury

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