Photo : BSS

DHAKA, Jan 25, 2026 (BSS)- The Election Commission (EC) has prepared 
transparent ballot boxes for voting in the postal ballots being introduced 
for the first time in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) and Referendum slated for 
February 12.

Regional Election Officer of Dhaka Md Yunuch Ali officially inaugurated the 
ballot box locking process at the Election Training Institute (ETI) at 
Agargaon here today in the presence of candidates' representatives.

This special measure was taken for the 'Out of Country Voting' (OCB) and 'In 
Country Postal Ballot' (ICPB) voting, introduced for the first time in the 
country's history.

Voting booths have been set up for Dhaka-13 constituency in room no- 505 on 
the fifth floor of the ETI building and for Dhaka-15 constituency in room no- 
606 on the sixth floor, it is seen while visiting the spot.

"There are 5,617 registered voters in Dhaka-13 constituency where some 14 
ballot boxes were prepared for them and 19 ballot boxes were ready for 7,405 
registered voters in Dhaka-15 electoral constituency," he said.

"For the first time in Bangladesh history, voters are getting the opportunity 
to franchise their voting rights through postal ballots, OCB and ICPB 
systems," Dhaka Regional Election Officer said.

He said, "Today, the ballot boxes were closed with the prescribed lock seals 
in front of the candidates' representatives. Earlier, a notification has also 
been issued stating the number with which these ballot boxes have been 
closed."

Regarding the voting process and security, he further said after the ballots 
arrive from the postal department, they will be scanned with our designated 
barcode machine.

"If it is found appropriate, they will be digitally saved on our laptop and 
the ballot envelope will be stored in the box. There will be 24-hour police 
guard at the polling stations," the EC official mentioned, adding, "Only the 
postal ballots which will arrive until 4:30 pm on February 12 to be accepted 
and inserted into the box. Even if the ballots that arrive after this are 
received, they will not be put into the box or counted."

Talking to BSS, additional regional election officer AHM Kamrul Hasan, also 
the officer-in-charge of postal ballots for Dhaka-13 and 15 constituencies 
said, "We have locked the boxes according to the capacity of 400 voters in 
each box. After the postal ballots arrive from the postal department, they 
will be verified with a barcode scanner and entered in Form No. 12. Then the 
postal ballot envelopes will be placed in the box."

Regarding the counting process, he said, "During the counting of votes after 
4:30 pm on February 12, the candidates will check the lock number of the box 
with the notification . . . If the number is correct, the lock will be opened 
and the counting will begin."