Hasina, family members ineligible to vote

Deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members will not be allowed to cast their votes from overseas in the upcoming 13th parliamentary election.

Confirming the matter on Wednesday, Election Commission (EC) Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said individuals with locked National IDs will be unable to vote from abroad.

In February, ASM Humayun Kabir, director general of the EC’s NID wing, ordered NID locks for Hasina and nine of her family members.

They are Rehana Siddiq, Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed, Saima Wazed, Shahin Siddiq, Bushra Siddiq, Tulip Rizwana Siddiq, Azmina Siddiq, Radwan Mujib Siddiq, and Tariq Ahmed Siddiq.

The EC secretary explained that the election will allow both in-country and out-of-country voting. Bangladeshis living abroad must register online using their NID numbers, and the registration system is currently being developed, he said.

When asked whether Hasina could cast her vote or not, he said, “Her NID is locked. Those with locked NIDs cannot cast votes.”

Individuals who have fled or are staying abroad because of lawsuits or for other reasons can exercise the franchise, provided their NIDs are in an unlocked status, Akhtar said, adding that online registration for overseas voting requires an NID number as passports are not accepted.

On 5 August last year, Hasina and leaders of her party Awami League fled the country amid a student-led mass uprising and took shelter in India. Besides, many other senior leaders are staying in different countries.

Although the government banned activities of the Awami League, activists and leaders of the party can still cast their votes as long as their NIDs remain unlocked.