51,533 expatriates completed registration through ‘Postal Vote BD’ app

Over 51,000 Bangladeshis living abroad have registered to vote through a postal ballot system for the first time.

According to the Election Commission (EC) website, a total of 51,533 expatriates had completed registration through the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app as of 10AM on Thursday as the country opens overseas voting ahead of the 13th national election and the upcoming referendum.

Of them, 43,646 are men and 7,887 are women.

The highest number of registrations came from the United States, with 10,335 voters, followed by South Korea with 8,889, Japan with 6,158, Canada with 5,865, Australia with 4,755, South Africa with 4,183 and China with 1,651.

The EC has now opened the app-based registration facility to Bangladeshis living in any country.

In a statement issued Wednesday night, the Commission said the registration window would remain open worldwide from 12:01AM Bangladesh time on November 27 until 11:59PM on December 18.

EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said that when the app was introduced on November 18, expatriates were placed into eight regions and each was given a five-day registration slot.

However, the restrictions have now been withdrawn for their convenience, he added.

Expatriates can register from anywhere in the world at any time during the announced period, he said, noting that the previous five-day limitation no longer applies.