No room for fraud in expat votes: EC Sunaullah

Election Commissioner (EC) Brig. Gen. (Retd.) Abul Fazal Md. Sunaullah has assured that there will be no opportunity for fraud in the voting process for expatriate Bangladeshis in the 13th national parliamentary election, saying, "live verification has been made mandatory, and intelligence personnel will oversee ballot security."

Speaking at a meeting with law enforcement and digital observation teams in Barishal on Sunday (February 1), Sunaullah said the ballots for expat voters will feature 119 symbols, requiring more time for counting. Only presiding officers will carry pens to polling stations, while other officials will use pencils.

He added that 10 magistrates will be deployed per constituency, and mobile financial services will be monitored to prevent vote buying. Measures will ensure voting rights for elderly, disabled, and injured voters, and CCTV cameras will be installed at all polling centers.

Sunaullah emphasised that the Election Commission will remain impartial, with no favoritism toward any party, and warned of strict consequences for officials engaging in biased conduct.