By Online Desk, The CNN :
President Md. Sahabuddin exercised his right to vote in the 12th National Assembly election to be held on January 7 through postal ballot today. He urged the countrymen to fulfill their civic duty by voting in the upcoming elections.
The President said to the countrymen by voting by mail in the credential hall of Banga Bhavan, “Let’s vote ourselves and encourage others to vote.” President’s wife Dr. Rebecca Sultana exercised her right to vote at 12 noon through postal ballot.
President Sahabuddin said, ‘Voting is the democratic right of the people. As a citizen it is our duty to vote. People give their democratic verdict through voting.
He also pointed out that voting is the most acceptable method for electing leadership in a democratic manner. The President hopes that this election will be held in a peaceful and festive atmosphere with the participation of all.
According to Article 27 of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), the Head of State is able to vote through postal ballot. Registered voters, those in prison or under legal custody, expatriate Bangladeshis and polling officers, can exercise their right to vote through postal ballot in the upcoming 12th National Assembly elections.
Four types of voters who are unable to go to the polling station can exercise their right to vote by mail (postal ballot). This provision has been implemented since the 9th national parliament election. Campaign initiatives have been taken by the Election Commission to encourage postal ballot voting in this parliamentary election.
In the recently held inter-ministerial meeting, the election commission directed the campaign among the concerned parties including the Bangladesh mission abroad to encourage voting by postal ballot.
According to the EC notification, a person who is interested in exercising the right to vote, must apply to the returning officer of his constituency for a postal ballot paper. The application must contain the voter’s name, postal address and serial number in the electoral roll, it said.
The Election Commission wants to popularize the issue of postal ballot by applying presidential vote. Voters of President Sahabuddin and his wife Pabna Sadar. The Returning Officer will consider the postal votes received by them within the time limit and declare the final result after counting those votes.
At this time, the secretary of the President’s office, Rich Barua, the military secretary, Major General SM Salah Uddin Islam, the press secretary. Zainal Abedin and Secretary (Attached) Md. Wahidul Islam Khan was present.
