Dual citizenship major problem for expatriates’ voting: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) K M Nurul Huda has said, dual citizenship is the major problem for making Bangladeshi expatriates as voters. Because, there is no legality of dual citizenship in many countries of the world.

He said these at a seminar titled ‘National Identity Card distribution and voting rights application for the expatriates Bangladeshi citizens’ organized at the Hotel Sonargaon in the capital on Thursday.

Director General of National Identity Registration Wing Brigadier General Mohammad Saidul Islam presented the key note paper in the seminar.

CEC Nurul Huda said, though postal vote was inaugurated in 2008 to ensure voting rights of expatriates but that was not made active. Letters were issued from different departments including Prime Minister to ensure voting rights of expatriates. Election Commission (EC) is working on the matter by giving proper importance. Huge campaign will be originated over the methods before the election.

CEC said, more than one crore Bangladeshi citizens are living in different countries of the world. There was demand for long days to ensure their voting rights.

National Identity Registration Wing DG Brigadier General Mohammad Saidul Islam recommended for practicing voting rights for the expatriates on a limited range based on experiment. Decision will be taken later considering the advantage and disadvantages.

In the key note paper he said, to step up the registration process for expatriates, equipments and skilled IT officials should be appointed to set up local server in each embassy and for building up registration team in proportionate with expatriates.

He also said, the main challenges for voting in exile are, setting up huge number of vote centers and expenditure, ensuring security for the vote centers, preventing violence, ensuring transparency and secrecy of postal ballot.

Different government officials, current and retired EC officials, Bangladeshi ambassadors in different countries, educationists and political leaders took part in the seminar.

AH