EC launches voter reg for Canada expatriates

Staff Reporter :

The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) has officially rolled out voter registration and smart National Identity (NID) card services for Bangladeshi expatriates living in Canada, a move seen as a milestone in extending democratic rights to non-resident citizens.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin inaugurated the services on Thursday at a ceremony held at the Bangladesh High Commission in Ottawa, where he symbolically handed over smart NID cards to a group of expatriates who had completed their registration. The event marked the first formal launch of the EC’s overseas programme, according to a message received in Dhaka yesterday.

“Democracy is inclusive when all citizens can take part, wherever they live,” the CEC said in his remarks, stressing that Bangladeshis abroad-who contribute billions of dollars annually in remittances and play an important role in investment and knowledge transfer-must also be granted a direct voice in shaping the nation’s future.

The inauguration ceremony drew members of the expatriate community from across Canada, many of whom engaged in a question-and-answer session with the CEC. Participants raised concerns about voting access, logistical challenges, and the need for transparent systems to ensure their ballots carry equal weight.

Under the new arrangement, Bangladeshi nationals residing in Canada can complete voter registration and obtain NID services at the High Commission in Ottawa and the Consulate General in Toronto. The system is designed to make civic participation more straightforward for expatriates, who for years have called for stronger mechanisms to exercise their voting rights from abroad.

Acting High Commissioner Kazi Russel Pervez delivered the welcome address at the launch, while Deputy High Commissioner Dewan Hossne Ayub offered the vote of thanks. Officials noted that the initiative demonstrates the government’s resolve to safeguard the democratic rights of nearly 10 million Bangladeshis living overseas, ensuring that their voices are counted alongside their economic contributions to national development.

For Bangladesh’s diaspora community, the introduction of voter registration and smart NID services in Canada represents more than a bureaucratic reform. It signals a step toward greater inclusion in the democratic process-an acknowledgement that citizenship and participation do not end at the nation’s borders.