Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarkar attended a discussion on the voting rights of Bangladeshi expatriates as chief guest, held at G Tower in Malaysia on Sunday. Photo : Collected

DHAKA, Sept 15, 2025 (BSS) - A discussion on the voting rights of Bangladeshi expatriates alongside a smart National Identity Card (NID) distribution programme has been held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Election Commissioner Md Anwarul Islam Sarkar attended the event as chief guest, held at G Tower on Sunday. Acting High Commissioner to Malaysia Mosammat Shahanara Monika presided over the programme, according to a message received here today. 

In his address, Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam paid deep homage to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War and the 2024 July Uprising. 

He reiterated the Election Commission's (EC) commitment to ensuring the voting rights of expatriates.

"For the first time, non-resident Bangladeshis will be able to cast their votes in the national election, and the EC has been working relentlessly to make this happen," he said.

Explaining the mechanism, the Commissioner said the EC plans to introduce ICT-assisted postal voting. Expatriates will require submitting an application online, after which ballot papers and return envelopes will be sent by post to their registered addresses. 

Voters will cast their ballots and return them through designated envelopes to the respective returning officers, while also being able to track their ballots online, he added.

Anwarul Islam sought their cooperation in this process, noting that the initiative aims to uphold their democratic rights and broaden electoral participation.

Acting High Commissioner Shahanara Monika thanked the EC for initiating the programme and assured that the High Commission would launch awareness campaigns in line with the EC's directives to facilitate participation of Bangladeshi expatriates in the elections.

Later, the Election Commissioner distributed smart NID cards and responded to questions from expatriates and journalists.

The programme was attended by community representatives, professionals, members of socio-cultural organisations, students, journalists, and officials of the High Commission.