Bangladesh to register expatriates in voter list

Dhaka, Oct 8 (UNI) To enroll the expatriates in the voter list the Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh, is going to conduct surveys in foreign countries where Bangladeshi citizens are residing.

Election Commissioners Muhammed Sohul Hussain and Brig Gen (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain are likely to visit Britain early next month to assess the measures for preparing the voter list comprising eligible Bangladeshi citizens living in UK, reports Daily Star.

''Initially, we will conduct the survey in the UK as the highest number of Bangladeshi expatriates live there,'' Election Commissioner Muhammed Sohul Hussain told newspersons yesterday at his office.

After the UK, the EC would initate the process to enroll expatriates living in other countries. ''We will make visits to other countries in the future, if necessary,'' he added.

The Bangladeshi citizens living overseas have been demanding registerion of their names in the voter list for long.

Election Commissioner Mr Hussain had earlier said the number of Bangladeshi expatriates stands at around one crore.

''The field level task of voter listing will begin in at least 62 places across the country from early next month,'' Sohul said.

The EC plans to use 7,200 laptops and other equipment to register around 1.39 crore voters.

UNI