Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members will not be able to cast votes from abroad through postal ballots if their National Identity (NID) Cards remain locked during the next election, according to remark made by Election Commission (EC) Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Wednesday.
“No one whose NID is locked will be able to vote from abroad,” he said while talking to reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban.
The EC secretary, however, did not mention anyone's name.
Formation of ‘election commission service’ sought for EC staff
EC officials confirmed that the NID cards of Sheikh Hasina and nine other members of her family were suspended on February 16, 2025 by the EC’s National Identity Registration Wing.
Those whose NIDs were locked include Hasina’s son Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, sister Rehana Siddiq, nieces Tulip Rizwana Siddiq and Azmina Siddiq, and nephew Radwan Mujib Siddiq Bobby.
Besides, Hasina’s former security adviser Tarique Ahmed Siddique (brother-in-law of Sheikh Rehana) and his wife Shahin Siddique and their daughter Bushra Siddique have also had their NID cards suspended.
So, none of them, including Hasina, will be able to exercise voting rights from abroad.
Replying to a question on whether Hasina can cast her vote from abroad, the EC Secretary said “Her NID is locked. Those whose NIDs are locked cannot vote.”
The EC official explained that once an NID is suspended, it cannot be used for any purpose, including voter registration.
For the first time, the Election Commission headed by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin is set to introduce an IT-supported postal ballot system for expatriate Bangladeshis, where having an active NID is mandatory for registration.
February election crucial for Bangladesh’s democratic transition: Gwyn Lewis
In the upcoming parliamentary election, there will be both in-country and out-of-country voting (OCV). “The expatriates will register online, and a system is being developed for this,” said Akhtar Ahmed.
But he said there is no bar on voting for those living abroad to due to lawsuits, exile, or any other reason, if their NIDs remain active.
Hasina fled to India on August 5, 2024, following a student-led mass uprising that toppled her government. Since then, she and many of her party colleagues have been living abroad.