The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has placed a series of formal proposals before the Election Commission (EC), demanding the inclusion of candidates’ names on postal ballots and a revision of the electoral Code of Conduct regarding voter slips.
The demands were raised during a meeting with the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) at the Election Commission headquarters on Thursday. A BNP delegation, led by Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, voiced concerns over the management of overseas postal ballots and the perceived “inactivity” of the EC in enforcing electoral rules.
Push for Detailed Postal Ballots
The BNP proposed that postal ballots used within the country must feature both the names and symbols of the contesting candidates, rather than just the symbols.
“Postal ballots will be widely used domestically. We have clearly proposed that the ballots used in specific constituencies—which include the names and symbols of all contesting candidates—should be the same ones used for postal voting. It is a logical demand,” Salahuddin Ahmed told reporters following the briefing.
According to EC data, over 1.53 million voters have registered for postal voting for the upcoming 13th Parliamentary Election and National Referendum scheduled for February 12. This includes approximately 761,000 domestic voters (government officials and detainees) and over 772,000 expatriate voters.
Concerns Over Overseas Voting Irregularities
The party expressed grave concern regarding the “open use” and potential manipulation of postal ballots sent abroad. Reports and social media videos have surfaced showing hundreds of ballot envelopes found at single addresses in countries like Bahrain and Qatar.
Salahuddin Ahmed alleged that these irregularities appear to benefit a specific political party, leaving the BNP at a disadvantage.
“We have asked the Commission for a clear explanation on how these ballots were sent, how they are being collected, and how hundreds of ballots ended up in one location. The EC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must answer for these lapses,” he stated.
Reforming Voter Slips and Code of Conduct
The BNP also urged the EC to amend the Code of Conduct to allow candidates to include their photos, names, and party symbols on voter slips. Currently, regulations restrict voter slips to only the voter’s name, number, and polling center details, prohibiting any political branding.
Salahuddin Ahmed argued that allowing more information on the slips would simplify the process for voters and help increase turnout. He also criticized the EC’s “indifferent” stance toward provocative speeches and statements made by leaders of other parties, which he claimed are clear violations of the Code of Conduct.
The meeting was also attended by BNP Election Management Committee member Ismail Zabiullah and former acting secretary of the EC, Mohammad Zakaria. The Election Commission has reportedly assured the delegation that their proposals and concerns will be taken into consideration.
