Bangladesh Elections: In a landmark development, more than 500,000 expatriate Bangladeshis have participated in the postal voting process for the 13th National Parliamentary Bangladesh Elections and referendum. This marks the first occasion that overseas voters have been formally incorporated into a national election in Bangladesh.
As of February 11, 2026, the Election Commission reported that 515,619 expatriates completed their voting through the IT-supported postal system. Salim Ahmad Khan, the leader of the OCV-SDI project, highlighted that 766,862 ballots were dispatched to various countries via the Postal Vote BD app. Of these, 528,579 expatriates received their ballots, and 515,619 successfully cast their votes.
The process saw 573,722 expatriate voters depositing their ballots in post offices or post boxes within their countries. To date, 444,033 of these ballots have been received by the returning officers in Bangladesh. Overall, the postal voting system has engaged 1,096,284 voters, including expatriates, government officials on election duty, and eligible prisoners.
Historically, expatriate participation in Bangladesh’s elections has been minimal due to logistical challenges. This initiative represents a significant shift in electoral inclusivity, setting a precedent for future elections. The success of the postal voting system could influence upcoming electoral reforms and policies regarding overseas voter engagement.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, February 12th, 2026
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