The government and the Election Commission (EC) have been served a legal notice by a group of 20 expatriate Bangladeshis from various countries, including the UK and the US, to ensure voting rights of Bangladeshi diaspora in different countries.
The notice has been served to Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commission secretary, law and justice secretary, foreign secretary, expatriate welfare and overseas employment secretary, asking them to initiate effective and visible measures within 30 days to address a set of demands, including steps for direct balloting, aimed at ensuring voting rights of expatriate Bangladeshis.
The notice notes that the contribution of expatriates to the Bangladeshi economy is 6-7%. "But, despite being one of the most important players in the country's economic prosperity, they are deprived of their voting rights."
The right to vote is a political right of citizens, which is also recognised by Bangladesh's Constitution, it mentions.
In the notice, it was demanded that several steps be taken urgently, including issuing national identity cards to expatriate Bangladeshis who are citizens of Bangladesh by birth but currently do not have national identity cards, and issuing an updated voter list of all expatriates who have obtained national identity cards, mentioning their latest location through the use of modern technology.
Other requested steps include setting up election support centres in the countries Bangladeshis are residing in to ensure their access of information. The centres have to be established under the supervision of the Election Commission, with the assistance of the Bangladesh embassies in the respective countries.
The notice also asked for arrangement of direct balloting for the expatriates by setting up polling stations at the election support centres with the assistance of respective Bangladesh embassy under the supervision of the Election Commission. In doing so, returning officers can be appointed from among the embassy officials.
Lawyer Shishir Monir has sent the notice on behalf of the 20 expatriates currently residing in the UK, the US, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Finland, Portugal, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Malaysia and Singapore.
The notice also warned of legal action in accordance with the existing laws of Bangladesh if the requested measures are not made visible within the 30 days from the date of receiving the notice.
