The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) has confirmed that over 648,000 postal ballots sent via the ‘Postal Vote BD’ mobile application have been received by returning officers from voters residing within the country. This figure is based on data collected up to 2:00 pm on Thursday.
The Commission reported that under this app-based postal voting system, a significant proportion of ballots dispatched through the postal service have already reached voters. Most recipients have cast their votes and submitted them via post offices or designated drop boxes. A substantial number of these ballots have now also reached the respective returning officers.
According to official figures, the total number of ballots dispatched by the postal service stood at 760,898. Of these, 681,819 voters successfully received their ballots. Among those who received ballots, 674,376 voters proceeded to cast their votes, and 669,950 subsequently submitted their completed ballots through post offices or official ballot boxes.
The Election Commission stated that 648,294 of the ballots sent via post have already arrived with the designated returning officers.
The detailed distribution and progress of postal ballots are summarised in the table below:
| Category | Number of Ballots | Percentage of Previous Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Ballots dispatched to voters | 760,898 | – |
| Ballots received by voters | 681,819 | 89.5% |
| Votes cast | 674,376 | 98.9% |
| Ballots submitted via post/drop box | 669,950 | 99.3% |
| Ballots received by returning officers | 648,294 | 85.2% of dispatched |
Election Commission officials emphasised that the app-based postal voting system provides a practical and secure alternative for voters residing within the country who are unable to attend polling stations in person. It enables eligible voters to participate in the electoral process conveniently while maintaining transparency and accountability.
The Commission also highlighted that each step of the postal voting process—from ballot dispatch and receipt to voting and submission—is carefully monitored to prevent delays or errors. This ensures that voters’ choices are accurately recorded and delivered to the appropriate returning officers in a timely manner.
The postal voting initiative particularly benefits government employees, personnel from state-owned enterprises, and other domestic voters who cannot be physically present at polling centres. By providing this option, the Election Commission aims to broaden voter participation and reinforce the credibility and inclusiveness of the election process.
Officials described the initiative as a successful model for balancing accessibility and electoral integrity, noting that the system has already facilitated a high rate of voter engagement in the ongoing elections.