Election Commissioner Brig Gen (retd) Abdul Fazal Md Sanaullah on Tuesday said the Election Commission is thinking about introducing a proxy voting system in a bid to ensure the franchise of expatriate Bangladeshis in the upcoming national election.  “In the next election, if we really want to fulfill the expectations and keep what the Chief Adviser (on December 16, 2024) said we want to fulfill the expectations of the expatriates; then we will have to go for proxy voting system… but the final decision depends on a consensus among political parties and other stakeholders,” he said while taking to reporters at Nirbachon Bhaban in the capital. Sanaullah is the head of a committee formed by the Election Committee to examine the balloting systems to ensure the application of voting rights of the expatriate Bangladeshis. He said that the Chief Adviser, in his address to the nation on December 16, specifically said that this time they want to ensure the votes of expatriate Bangladeshis. “This time, we want to implement, not just assure. We want to invent a reliable system,” the chief adviser was quoted as saying. In light of the Chief Adviser, the Election Commission has given the responsibility to the concerned committee to submit a proposal in this regard, said the Election Commissioner. “The Election Commission is making every effort to bring expatriate Bangladeshis under the voting system,” he said. 42,000 Bangladeshi expats seek voter registration abroad The committee examined three balloting systems for expatriates – postal balloting system, online balloting system and proxy balloting system. About the postal system, he said, their (committee’s) finding is that the postal system is currently a dysfunctional system for expatriates. “That is why not a single vote was cast by an expatriate in the last 12th parliamentary elections. A total of 433 votes were cast from the people within Bangladesh,” he added. About the online voting system, the Election Commissioner said online voting has not become very popular in different countries like the United States, the Philippines, Estonia and Mexico. “Besides, in our subcontinent, India, Pakistan and a few countries are piloting online systems.” But during a discussion, the UNDP said many people could not succeed with this online system and finally returned to their previous system. Talking about the proxy voting system, Sanaullah said the proxy balloting system is practiced in various countries, including Australia and England. In India, it is practiced only for the members of the armed forces, he said. He said the arguments in favour of this proxy system include this system is practiced in some places globally, a system is here in Bangladesh that lands and other properties can be sold by another person through power of attorney, and there is also a tradition here that the persons with physically-challenged people can vote with the help of others. “This is the only method that the (balloting) can be done in minimum time and in real time,” said the Election Commissioner. Voters in Bangladesh now stand at 123.7 million: CEC He said the Election Commission will arrange a workshop over the three balloting system by April 7 and 8 next with participation of experts including ones from Dhaka University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) and MIST, experts from the electoral system reform commission and EC’s former expert officials and NGOs. “We want to develop a system,” he said. “Later, we want to discuss with political parties and other stakeholders. Then if we see that this is acceptable, then we will go to the system development. Later we will have to go to testing and auditing,” said Md Sanaullah. He said the EC then will have to change the law and will go for a trial run of the system (proxy balloting system). “We hope, although it is a conditional matter … We think we will be able to implement proxy voting on a larger scale and the rest systems on a trial basis,” said the Election Commissioner. He said although there is no actual information about the number of expatriate voters. According to the information the EC gleaned from 44 Bangladeshi missions in 34 foreign countries, the number of expatriates is 13.2 million. “If we assume 70 to 80 percent are voters, then there are 10 million voters. Only those whose names are on the voter list will be able to vote through proxy balloting system,” he added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday (January 04, 2023) asked the expatriate Bangladeshis not to send money home through the hundi, a cross-border money transfer method that bypasses the legal banking system. “I would like to request those who use hundi to stop it and instead send the money directly through banking channels,” she said at a meeting with the leaders of the Awami League’s different overseas chapters including the USA and the UK ones at her office. The premier said the government is now setting up 100 economic zones in the country and the expatriates can make investment under joint-venture there. Read more: PM Hasina asks police to firmly deal with destructive acts “Those who want to do business can make investments there. If anyone (expat) can bring foreign partners (from various countries of the world) to invest here, it would be better,” she said. Expressing satisfaction over new investments coming to Bangladesh, she said the inflow of foreign funds in the country is good as the foreign investors consider Bangladesh as a good destination. Talking about the global crisis induced by the Russia-Ukraine war, Hasina said her government won’t let the people suffer from the food shortage. Read more: Foreign observers are welcome during next general election: PM Hasina tells British MPs “So, we’re purchasing food from anywhere in the world, and spending money whatever is required. We’re facing some problems because of the Ukraine war….. We will not let the people suffer,” she said, adding that the inflation rate is showing a decreasing trend in the country. She, however, expressed satisfaction over production of the Aman paddy and said that it has been a bumper yield this year. Now everyone is now busy planting Boro paddy and the stock of fertilizer is satisfactory, she added. PM Hasina said her government has already reached electricity to every house and allowed people to install small solar panels particularly for irrigation. Read More: Bangladesh gets $10.49 billion inward remittances in July-December: Central Bank.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Thursday urged the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) to be “more sensitive” in ensuring hassle-free services to the expatriate Bangladeshis in an expeditious way as over 1 crore people of the country live abroad. “We expect the DCs to be more sensitive on these issues making things easier,” he told reporters after attending the third-day session of the DCs’ Conference at the Osmani Memorial Auditorium. Dr Momen said the expatriate Bangladeshis come with some complaints of not getting passports, police clearances, marriage certificates and birth certificates timely apart from losing control over their land in some cases. They also complained that they do not get required information when efforts are taken to bring back bodies from abroad, said the Foreign Minister. Read:Cambodian chairmanship of ASEAN to expedite Rohingya repatriation: FM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said fugitive convict Tarique Rahman keeps hatching conspiracies against Bangladesh from a foreign land. “As a fugitive, Tarique Zia lives outside Bangladesh but doesn’t stop conspiring inside the country. His conspiracies are going on. But we’ve been taking the country forward facing all the plots,” she said while addressing a civic reception here. The Bangladeshi community living in France accorded the reception to the Prime Minister. It is now proven correct that BNP high-ups were directly involved in the August-21 grenade attacks, said Hasina mentioning the subsequent remarks and activities of the BNP leaders after the attack. Read: Rohingya repatriation: PM seeks strong steps from world leaders Tarique Zia is also convicted in the August 21 grenade attack case, she said.

The Embassy of Bangladesh in Seoul in partnership with the Embassy of India in Seoul, Indian Art Museum, Tagore Society of Korea and the Bengali Association of Korea and expatriate Bangladeshis celebrated the "Rabindra-Nazrul Jayanti" Saturday. Also, the centenary of the publication of Kazi Nazrul Islam's poem "Bidrohi" (The Rebel) was observed, and a cultural presentation on the music and poems written by Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam was released. The Bangladesh Embassy, for the first time, celebrated the Rabindra-Nazrul Jayanti and centenary of the publication of Nazrul's poem Bidrohi in partnership with the Indian Embassy in Seoul, Indian Art Museum, Tagore Society of Korea, expatriate Bangladeshis and the Bengali Association of Korea.

Bangladesh Ambassador to South Korea Abida Islam has said Bangladesh has been making significant contribution to the establishment of peace and conflict resolution following the ideology of peace propagated by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. She also mentioned that Bangabandhu’s effort to promote peace, cooperation and peaceful co-existence is best reflected in his foreign policy formulation that is based on the principle of friendship towards all, malice towards none. The Ambassador, while addressing a virtual discussion on Sunday, called upon the expatriate Bangladeshis to provide combine efforts to build a hunger and poverty-free, happy and prosperous "Sonar Bangla" as envisioned by Father of the Nation. Read: S Korean envoy shares historical documents with FM Momen The Embassy of Bangladesh, Seoul celebrated the 48th Anniversary of the Bangabandhu’s receipt of Juliot-Curie Medal of Peace on Sunday with due fervor and festivity. To observe the occasion in a befitting manner, the Embassy held an online discussion programme chaired by Ambassador Abida Islam and participated by expatriate Bangladeshis living in South Korea. At the beginning of the programme, a documentary on Bangabandhu’s receipt of Juliot-Curie Medal of Peace was screened. Ambassador Abida Islam paid rich tribute to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.  She touched upon the background of Bangabandhu’s receipt of Juliot-Curie Medal of Peace and his great contribution in establishing lasting world peace. Implementation of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord by the Prime Minister in 1996 and submission of model of world peace at UN General Assembly in 2011 by empowering people and ensuring development are the shining examples of that. Read:Rohingya Crisis: Korea provides $4 mn to support 2021 JRP Moreover, as a leading troop contributing country at the UN peacekeeping missions, Bangladesh continues to contribute to the world peace. During the discussion session, the participants remembered with great respect the contribution of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in establishing lasting peace in the world. Also, they discussed on Bangabandhu’s vision, philosophy and his tireless efforts to promote world peace and non-violence and peaceful co-existence.  

The monthly inflow of remittances hit an all-time high in April ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, reaching $2.067 billion. Expatriate Bangladeshis sent $1.91 billion in remittances in March; which rose 8.19% in April, according to the Bangladesh Bank. Read bKash offers 1 pc cash bonus on receiving remittance Expatriates sent $2.06 billion in remittance in April, up 89.17% year-on-year from the same period of last year. Remittance inflow usually increases ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha, as the expatriates send a big chunk of foreign currencies to the country ahead of two major religious festivals of the Muslims, experts said. Read BB further simplifies outward remittance rules for industrialists Although the pandemic has slowed down the global economy, remittance inflow grew 39% to $20.67 billion in the first 10 months of the current fiscal year, compared to the same period of the last fiscal. The remittance earnings have begun an upward march amid the Covid-19 pandemic as the government and the central bank took several initiatives to boost it; the migrant workers have already become used to the legal channels and are enjoying the 2% cash incentive, experts said. Read Remittances: First 6 months of fiscal sees over 37 percent growth

The government has decided to discourage expatriate Bangladeshis from returning home during lockdown, unless facing an emergency.   Bangladesh Missions abroad are being engaged to disseminate the message among expat communities in various countries.   To convey the message to expatriates, support from the social media platforms, Bangladesh Missions’ websites and community leaders will be taken. However, the expatriates will be able to return to home from abroad in case there is any emergency need with a condition of mandatory 14-day institutional quarantine.  Also read: Biman to run special flights to 5 countries from Apr 17 Each of the returnees will have to show Covid-19 negative certificate which is a must and the Bangladesh Missions abroad will prepare the list of those who need to come to Bangladesh on an emergency need. The Armed Forces Division will take adequate preparations for institutional quarantine facilities in Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet. The decisions were taken at a virtual inter-ministerial meeting held on Thursday chaired by Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen. Health Minister, Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister, State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism, State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam and senior officials of the ministries concerned attended.  The government has decided to allow airlines including Biman Bangladesh Airlines to operate special flights to five countries - Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Singapore from April 17 in an effort to help stranded Bangladeshi expatriate workers can join their workplaces. Also read: Bangladesh to operate special flights to carry overseas workers Among the expatriate Bangladeshi workers who want to go to these five countries having BMET clearance issued by the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, they will be given priority in going abroad. However, in the case of these countries, those who have a visit visa, but do not have BMET clearance, will not get priority in going abroad. Bangladeshis who will go to the UAE for work with a visit visa can get a BMET clearance. During the lockdown, those who wish to travel to countries other than the five mentioned countries in case of emergency will be able to travel on special flights as transit-passengers subject to clearance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Bangladesh has urged the Bahrain government to take back expatriate Bangladeshis who got stuck here due to the Covid-19 situation.

 The Embassy of Bangladesh in Rome, Italy has honoured five expatriate Bangladeshis and a business organisation with “Remittance Award".