85,000 Bangladeshis In Malaysia To Vote In Historic Postal Ballots 

By Rohani Ibrahim

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 11 (Bernama) -- About 85,000 Bangladesh nationals residing in Malaysia have registered as postal voters for the country’s 13th General Elections on February 12.

This marks the first time postal voting is implemented in the South Asian nation’s electoral process.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia, Manjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury, said ballot papers for those who have registered as postal voters for the upcoming elections through the Postal Vote BD mobile application have been sent to their respective homes and workplaces.

“Around 85,000 Bangladesh nationals in Malaysia have registered and verified their identification for postal votes. The figure represents about 10 per cent of the total Bangladeshi diaspora in Malaysia presently.

“Now the ballot papers are coming, some have already arrived. I have got my ballot paper,” he told Bernama in an exclusive interview at his office, here, recently. 

Chowdhury said postal voters can begin marking their ballot papers from January 22, when the Bangladesh Election Commission confirms the candidates’ list for all the constituencies, and should complete the marking process by January 26.

He added that the ballot papers are to be posted in the return envelope provided by the Bangladesh Election Commission.

According to Chowdhury, the Bangladesh Post Office has collaborated with Malaysia’s Pos Laju through the Universal Postal Union to ensure the postal voting process runs smoothly.

“Both parties (Bangladesh Post Office and Pos Laju) are in constant communication now since their first meeting coordinated by the High Commission early last month. A similar mechanism is in place with other countries,“ he said. 

Malaysia has the world’s second-largest Bangladeshi diaspora after Saudi Arabia.

The High Commissioner said he is also aware that there are Bangladeshi nationals in Malaysia who did not register for postal votes and plan to return to their homeland to vote physically, enjoy the election festive mood and visit their families next month.

Chowdhury said the upcoming general election marks an important milestone for the South Asian nation of 180 million people, as Bangladeshis will elect 300 Members of Parliament and, at the same time, vote for a referendum based on a consensus reached among political parties.

 It is the consensus reached among the political parties and civil society organisations on how the country will be run in future. It is a reform proposal, developed based on the spirit of the July-August 2024 mass uprising, he said. 

The High Commissioner said Bangladesh’s Chief Election Commissioner, AMM Nasir Uddin, has also written to Malaysia’s Election Commission Chairman, Datuk Seri Ramlan Harun, requesting the deployment of an international observer for the upcoming General Election.

“Bangladesh welcomes Malaysia’s support for the upcoming election, as we have great admiration for and trust in Malaysia’s experience and capacity to conduct free and fair elections,” he said.

More than 127 million registered voters are set to exercise their voting right to elect a government and replace the interim government, which has been in charge since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted and left the country in August 2024.

Of the number, 1.53 million have registered for postal voting. They include expatriates, government staff who are posted outside their respective constituencies, polling personnel, and persons in legal custody. 

The election campaign is expected to run from January 22 until February 10.

Bangladesh’s 13th General Election has drawn a large field of around 2,568 candidates. Political parties account for the majority, with 51 parties sponsoring 2.090 candidates, while 478 are running as independents.

-- BERNAMA