Rights activists on Saturday demanded voting rights for Bangladeshi expatriates regarded as one of the driving forces of economic development in the country.
They said that inclusive election and democratic transformation of the country would not happen without ensuring voting rights of the expatriates.聽聽
The activists made the remarks at a press conference, organised by the Expatriate Rights Movement, held at the Dhaka Reporters Unity auditorium.
Expatriate Rights Movement convener Nurul Mostafa Khokon read out a written statement at the conference.
He said that the voting rights for expatriates were not established even in 53 years of independence of the country although the country鈥檚 constitution gave the voting rights to all citizens of 18 years of age and above.
Referring to government statistics, Khokon said that there were one and a half crore Bangladeshi expatriates living in 157 countries for work which was 13 per cent of the total voters in the country.
He also said that expatriates did not show interest in the postal ballot system and boycotted the
unilateral 12th parliamentary elections as the main opposition political parties did not participate in the elections.
Khokon raised an eight-point demand to ensure voting rights of the expatriates.
The demands included arrangements for voting at Bangladesh embassies or consulate offices for expatriates, considering opinions of expatriates in the election process in determining public representatives, arranging votes a day before the election in America, Europe, Canada and Australia and on the same day in countries with less time difference from Bangladesh ensuring transparency and introducing the 鈥榓dvanced voting system鈥� for those expatriates busy with work.
The other demands included introducing the digital or online voting system to ensure transparency in the voting process and save time as the postal ballot system abroad is a long and complex process, ensuring adequate security measures to prevent manipulation or hacking if online voting system is introduced, ensuring a smart, simple and fast voting procedure through registered mobile phones of the Election Commission鈥檚 designated apps.
Election expert Abdul Alim mentioned that the authorities must ensure voting rights for the expatriates for inclusive election.
Nagorik Uddyog executive director Zakir Hossain said that 13 per cent voters were expatriates and the number was very big.
He said that the opinions of expatriates must be addressed for a democratic transformation of the country.
Dhaka University mass communication and journalism department professor Robaet Ferdous presided over the press conference while human rights activist Aminur Rasul, and Bangladeshi expatriate living in Qatar Safiur Rahman Tapan, among others, spoke at the press conference.