Voting eligibility of PM Hasina and her family members is called into question for the upcoming national election, according to the EC secretary's statement.
In the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election scheduled for February next year, deposed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her immediate family members, as well as several senior leaders of the Awami League who are currently abroad, will not be able to exercise their voting rights due to locked National Identity Cards (NIDs).
According to statements made by the Election Commission Secretary, Akhtar Ahmed, at his office in the capital's Agargaon, anyone whose NID is locked cannot vote from abroad. This includes Sheikh Hasina and her family members, such as Sheikh Rehana Siddique, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, Saima Wazed, Shahnaz Siddique, Bushra Siddique, Tulip Rizwana Siddique, Azmira Siddique, Radwan Mujib Siddique, and Tarique Ahmed Siddique.
In April this year, the NIDs of these individuals, including Sheikh Hasina, were locked, as per instructions from NID Wing Director General ASM Humayun Kabir.
The Awami League leaders abroad may not be able to vote in the upcoming election, but they may still contest it. However, they will only be able to cast their votes if their NIDs are unlocked. It is important to note that to vote from abroad, one must register online using their NID number.
The exact number of leading Awami League leaders currently abroad who have had their NIDs suspended could not be confirmed. Many top party figures of the Awami League have been staying in different countries.
Sheikh Hasina and several senior Awami League leaders fled to India on 5 August last year after a student-led mass uprising toppled her government. The party members may still contest the election, but only those physically present in Bangladesh will be able to cast their votes.
Those who have fled abroad due to cases or other reasons can vote, but their NID must be unlocked. A passport will not work for registering to vote from abroad.
The government has imposed restrictions on the Awami League's organisational activities, but their voting rights technically remain intact. However, the restrictions have made it challenging for the party leaders abroad to participate in the election process.
Despite these challenges, the Awami League has expressed confidence in its ability to win the election, citing the support of its grassroots members and the party's track record in governance. The opposition parties, on the other hand, have accused the government of manipulating the election process to favour the Awami League.
The Election Commission has assured the public that it will ensure a free and fair election, and it has taken steps to improve the election process, such as introducing biometric voting machines and increasing the number of polling stations. The Commission has also urged all eligible voters to register and exercise their right to vote.
The upcoming election is expected to be a closely contested one, with the Awami League facing stiff competition from the opposition parties. The outcome of the election will have significant implications for the future of Bangladesh's politics and governance.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
