(a) An ICT-mediated postal voting system is proposed by the Electoral System Commission to ensure transparency for expatriates. Two potential solutions are suggested in the final report. Any one solution to be selected for implementation.
(b) To implement the proposed ICT-mediated postal voting system, two mobile applications “Voter App” and “Verifier App” to be developed with appropriate functionalities. These applications to be developed for both Android and iOS platforms to ensure accessibility. Additionally, a backend system to be developed for the proposed system.
(c) Security of the developed mobile applications and the system to be ensured such that the data can be securely transmitted and stored in the database. This to include an access control system and immutable audit trails to ensure database security.
(d) The proposed system to undergo extensive testing before being used in national elections. A three-phase trial is recommended to identify and rectify any anomalies, ensuring the system’s reliability.
(e) Continuous security audits of the developed system to be conducted through one or more internationally recognised security audit firms. This will be essential to build trust in the system.
(f) Training for all individuals involved in the process to be provided to ensure the efficient use of the new system.
(g) The proposed ICT-mediated voting system to consider also the cases of voters residing in countries without any Bangladeshi consulate. A policy to be developed to designate a consulate as a focal point for such countries.
(h) To reduce the logistical workload of consulate officials in distributing postal packages to expatriate voters, each postal package to be prepared in Bangladesh and then distributed to consulates. Consulate officials to then use the local postal service in their respective countries to deliver the packages to expatriate voters.
(i) An effective timeline to be established to complete all activities related to the postal voting, from registration to securely storing election-related ballots in treasury vaults, in all constituencies.
(j) Although the proposed system is designed for expatriate voters, it may be adapted for domestic absentee voters with minimal modifications. However, concerns about the reliability of the postal service in the country pose a significant challenge. To address this, a reliable courier service capable of tracking postal packages to be used to deliver the packages to voters and later return them to the returning officers.

Year
2025
Reform Domain
Electoral Process Electoral Process
Sub Domain
Postal Voting System for Expatriates
Source of Reform Proposals
Electoral Reform Commission
Reform Proposed
Reform Proposed
Reform Initiated
Reform Initiated
Legal and Policy Framework
Legal and Policy Framework
Operationalisation
Operationalisation
Action Implementation
Action Implementation
Stage of Implementation
Reform Proposed
Reform Proposed
Last Update: 14-Dec-25
This reform proposal has been articulated in the Electoral Reform Commission Report but has yet to be officially initiated.
Reform Initiated
Reform Initiated
Last Update: 14-Dec-25
The Election Commission has announced that, in the forthcoming Thirteenth National Parliamentary Election, expatriate Bangladeshis, persons engaged in election duties, and government employees residing outside their voter areas, and voters in legal custody, will be able to cast their votes through information-technology–supported postal ballots.
Legal and Policy Framework
Legal and Policy Framework
Last Update: 14-Dec-25
EC will develop detailed instructions for IT-supported postal ballots registration.
Operationalisation
Operationalisation
Last Update: 12-Feb-26
For the 13th National Parliamentary Election, a total of 1,533,684 voters has registered for postal voting. Of these, 772,546 are out-of-country voters and 761,138 are in-country voters. As of 12 February 2026, 1,165,592 postal ballots have been received by Returning Officers. The website is updated regularly.
Action Implementation
Action Implementation
Last Update: 17-Feb-26
1,073,497 postal ballots were approved by Returning Officers in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. Out of these, 601,524 were from ICPV (In-Country Postal Voters) and 471,973 were from OCV (Out-of-Country Voters). A total of 92,096 returned envelopes were rejected by Returning Officers, reflecting a rejection rate of 7.90%. Overall, 95.91% of ballots returned by voters were received by Returning Officers. Among postal voters, 98.04% returned their ballots to the designated postal service, indicating a high return compliance rate. However, only 81.12% of registered voters received their postal ballots. There is a notable disparity in ballot delivery: 9.98% of registered ICPV did not receive their ballots, whereas 28.21% of registered OCV did not receive their ballots, indicating comparatively higher delivery challenges for out-of-country voters. In terms of the composition of accepted postal ballots, ICPV accounted for 56.03% of total accepted postal votes, while OCV accounted for 43.97%.
Observation
    The ICT-based postal voting application was successfully launched for both Android and iOS platforms, including user registration and verification functionalities. However, it is observed that several sub-recommendations from the reform proposal were not fully implemented during this election cycle.
    The reform proposal recommended that ballot packages be dispatched in bulk to Bangladeshi consulates for subsequent distribution to voters. In practice, the Election Commission sent the packages directly to voters on an individual basis. Similarly, while the proposal recommended the use of an international courier service to ensure reliable and trackable delivery, the Bangladesh Postal Service was employed for both the distribution and return of postal packages.
    According to Election Commission officials, an information technology (IT) firm was engaged to ensure the data security of the application, and the Commission coordinated with this firm accordingly. Training sessions were also organised for individuals involved in the postal voting process. The registration period remained open until 25 December. Voters from 148 countries, irrespective of access to a Bangladeshi consulate, were able to register through the application by specifying their current location, and postal voting equipment was dispatched to their respective addresses. The Postal Department and the Civil Aviation Authority collaborated in this process.
    A ballot tracking system was implemented, enabling voters and Returning Officers to monitor the status of each ballot. A formal agreement was established between the Postal Department and the Election Commission to facilitate the process.
    Article 27 of the revised Representation of the People Ordinance (RPO) permits individuals in government service stationed outside their registered constituencies, persons detained in prison or lawful custody within Bangladesh, and individuals engaged in election duties outside their registered constituencies to vote through postal voting. However, despite the operationalisation of the system, concerns were raised during and after the election regarding its credibility. Reports in news media and discussions on social media by various political stakeholders questioned the authenticity of the process and whether it remained free from external influence.
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Related Reforms

(a) Election expenditure to be capped at BDT 10 per voter per parliamentary constituency.
(b) All election expenses to be processed through banking systems or financial technology platforms (e.g., Bikash, Rocket).
(c) To maintain close oversight on election expenditures of candidates and political parties, the Election Commission to set up ‘election expenditure monitoring committees’ at the constituency levels.
(d) Election expenditures filed by candidates and political parties to be subjected to auditing, the candidates’ election to be annulled in case of discrepancies.
(e) All election related expenses of the Election Commission to be a charge on the consolidated budget of the Republic.
Legal and Policy Framework
(a) To allow stationary observation, so that observers may remain at the centre throughout the day, but not inside the polling booth continuously. (b) Official permission to be granted to observer organisations for pre-election observation. (c) Fake and biased observers to be banned. (d) Appointment of individual observers is to be allowed. (e) Election observation reports are to be used to improve future elections. (f) To make the steps from the beginning to the end of appointing international observers clear for the concerned organisations. To appoint observers according to the decision of the Commission instead of the government. (g) Journalists with valid election commission-issued cards are to be allowed to enter polling stations to document irregularities, and they are to be allowed to use motorcycles on election day.
Operationalisation
(a) The proposed Election Commission Act to have provisions to ensure that offenses or irregularities committed by the Election Commission to be brought to justice. (b) By amending the relevant law, to retain the provision requiring the Commission’s permission to file cases against government officers and employees, and to remove the legal barriers to conducting an investigation or inquiry in this regard. (c) To relax the prescribed time limit for filing cases under sections 73 and 74, in section 90 of the Representation of the People Order, 1972. (d) A time limit to be set for the disposal of electoral offense cases to expedite the length of adjudication and ensure timely justice.
Reform Proposed
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Glossary

Last Updated: 14th December 2025

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