Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her family members will not be able to cast their votes in the upcoming 13th National Parliamentary Election, even if they are abroad. The Election Commission (EC) confirmed on Wednesday (September 17) that since their National Identity Cards (NIDs) are locked, they cannot register as voters.
EC Secretary Akhter Ahmed explained that an online registration process is being developed for expatriate voters. However, only those with active NIDs will be able to register. “Passport won’t be enough; NID is mandatory. If someone’s NID is locked, they cannot register,” he said.
Earlier in April, under the directive of the EC’s NID wing, the NIDs of 10 members of Sheikh Hasina’s family—including Sheikh Rehana, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and Saima Wazed—were locked, making them ineligible to vote from abroad.
Many Awami League leaders are currently living overseas. Although the government has imposed a ban on the party’s political activities, their voting rights technically remain intact. But anyone with a locked NID will not be able to exercise that right.
It is worth noting that Sheikh Hasina fled to India on August 5 last year following a mass student-led uprising. Since then, the NID lock has effectively suspended her and her family’s voting rights.