EC mulls to enrol expatriates living in UK as voters
Friday, 12 October 2007
The Election Commission (EC) is giving priority to the UK expatriates in enrolling them in the voters' list since there are some advantages for them as per the country's citizenship law.
"The law ensures the voting right of the dual citizens, who are holding both Bangladeshi and British citizenship, for their great contribution to the liberation war of 1971," Election Commissioner M Sohul Hussain told reporters at his office Thursday, reports UNB.
Sohul and the other Election Commissioner, Brig. Gen. (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain, are to visit the UK in November to explore whether most of the UK expatriates are interested to be enrolled as voters or not.
"We would examine there whether only a few activists or most of the expatriates are interested to be enrolled… It would come out through discussion," Sohul said, adding that they are also considering Australia and Canada in this connection.
To the best of his knowledge, Sohul said, 80 to 90 per cent UK expatriates want to be voters and exercise their franchise. "It would be decided after the London visit whether the majority are interested to be voters, how the expatriates could be enrolled."
The expatriates could cast their vote by post or coming to the concerned constituency, he said, adding that they would be enrolled at their permanent addresses given in the passport.
About the remarks of the leaders of two major political parties-Awami League and BNP-that they would not join the EC-sponsored dialogue on concerned electoral laws with their leader Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia in jail, Sohul said there is still enough time.
"They would be coming… for the greater interest of the country and election… Why do you think negative?" he posed question to the newsmen when asked what the EC would do if the parties ceased from taking part in the ongoing dialogue in connection with the electoral reforms.
About the criticism that the EC wants to control the political parties, the Election Commissioner said neither is the EC controlling the activities of the parties nor would it do so.
"We want election free from black money, muscle power and trade in nomination… We will do whatever is needed to ensure it… The political parties won't also disagree on this issue," he said.
"The law ensures the voting right of the dual citizens, who are holding both Bangladeshi and British citizenship, for their great contribution to the liberation war of 1971," Election Commissioner M Sohul Hussain told reporters at his office Thursday, reports UNB.
Sohul and the other Election Commissioner, Brig. Gen. (retd) M Sakhawat Hussain, are to visit the UK in November to explore whether most of the UK expatriates are interested to be enrolled as voters or not.
"We would examine there whether only a few activists or most of the expatriates are interested to be enrolled… It would come out through discussion," Sohul said, adding that they are also considering Australia and Canada in this connection.
To the best of his knowledge, Sohul said, 80 to 90 per cent UK expatriates want to be voters and exercise their franchise. "It would be decided after the London visit whether the majority are interested to be voters, how the expatriates could be enrolled."
The expatriates could cast their vote by post or coming to the concerned constituency, he said, adding that they would be enrolled at their permanent addresses given in the passport.
About the remarks of the leaders of two major political parties-Awami League and BNP-that they would not join the EC-sponsored dialogue on concerned electoral laws with their leader Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia in jail, Sohul said there is still enough time.
"They would be coming… for the greater interest of the country and election… Why do you think negative?" he posed question to the newsmen when asked what the EC would do if the parties ceased from taking part in the ongoing dialogue in connection with the electoral reforms.
About the criticism that the EC wants to control the political parties, the Election Commissioner said neither is the EC controlling the activities of the parties nor would it do so.
"We want election free from black money, muscle power and trade in nomination… We will do whatever is needed to ensure it… The political parties won't also disagree on this issue," he said.