About 85,000 Bangladeshi nationals in Malaysia are registered for postal voting in their homeland’s upcoming general election, a first for the nation
KUALA LUMPUR: Approximately 85,000 Bangladesh nationals residing in Malaysia have registered as postal voters for their country’s upcoming general election.
This marks the first time postal voting has been implemented in Bangladesh’s electoral process.
Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury said ballot papers for registered voters have been dispatched to their homes and workplaces.
“Now the ballot papers are coming, some have already arrived. I have got my ballot paper,” he told Bernama in an exclusive interview.
Chowdhury stated that voters can begin marking ballots from January 22 and must complete the process by January 26.
The marked ballots are to be returned using pre-paid envelopes provided by the Bangladesh Election Commission.
The Bangladesh Post Office is collaborating with Malaysia’s Pos Laju to ensure the smooth handling of these postal votes.
Malaysia hosts the world’s second-largest Bangladeshi diaspora after Saudi Arabia.
The High Commissioner noted some nationals plan to return home to vote in person and visit family.
The election on February 12 will see Bangladeshis elect 300 Members of Parliament and vote in a concurrent national referendum.
Chowdhury said Bangladesh has requested Malaysia deploy an international observer for the election.
More than 127 million registered voters are set to participate in the election nationally.
Of that total, 1.53 million people, including expatriates, have registered for postal voting.
The election campaign period is scheduled to run from January 22 until February 10.
A large field of around 2,568 candidates is contesting the 13th general election
