Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Tuesday called on the Election Commission (EC) to extend the registration deadline for out-of-country voting (OCV) and to allow Bangladeshi expatriates without national identity (NID) cards to register as voters using their passports ahead of the upcoming national election.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin at EC headquarters, BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan said many expatriates have been unable to obtain NIDs due to practical constraints and a lack of initiatives abroad to issue the cards.

“Many expatriates do not have NID cards. For various practical reasons, they could not obtain them and the EC did not take steps in every country to issue new NIDs. That’s why we proposed that valid Bangladeshi passports be accepted as identity documents for voter registration,” he said.

Nazrul Islam noted concerns over irregular or fraudulent passports, acknowledging that even non-citizens, including Rohingyas, had previously acquired Bangladeshi passports through corruption.

“Still, we suggested that passport photos be sent to the relevant authorities for verification. If verified accurately, they should be registered as voters. The EC assured us they will seriously consider the proposal,” he added.

He said large Bangladeshi communities in countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE face communication and logistical barriers that complicate the registration process.
For this reason, BNP requested an extension of the OCV registration period in these countries so more expatriates can participate.
According to Nazrul Islam, the EC informed the delegation that its current schedule already includes a supplementary registration window for those who miss the initial deadlines.
He added that the EC sought BNP’s cooperation in ensuring a fair and impartial election.
“We assured them of our cooperation. We are also working within the party to encourage expatriates to register. Our acting chairman has instructed us to do so, as expatriate participation is vital for strengthening democracy,” he said.

The BNP delegation also included senior joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, chairperson’s advisory council member Ismail Zabiullah and former EC acting secretary Mohammad Zakaria.