Prisoners cast votes through postal ballots

Voting by imprisoned voters through postal ballots has begun for the 13th national parliamentary election.

A total of 5,960 imprisoned voters across the country are exercising their voting rights by entering designated booths set up inside their respective prisons.

According to a prior announcement by the Election Commission, prison authorities began the voting process on Tuesday, February 3. Inspector General of Prisons Brigadier General Syed Md Motaher Hossain visited Keraniganj Central Jail to inspect the process.

He said imprisoned voters across the country are casting their votes through postal ballots from Tuesday.

He added that sealed postal ballot papers had already been delivered to all prisons in advance.

The IG Prisons said voting was initially scheduled to continue until February 5, but as February 4 is a public holiday, the Election Commission extended the deadline to February 6.

Several prisoners opposed to the 2024 mass uprising are being held at Keraniganj Special Jail, where voting is taking place at two booths. No political prisoners voted there on Tuesday, with only general inmates casting ballots. Political prisoners will vote on February 5 and 6.

Those eligible include Workers Party president and former minister Rashed Khan Menon and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president and former information minister Hasanul Haq Inu, along with other political figures.

Under election rules, imprisoned voters are casting ballots for candidates from their respective constituencies.