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Published : 09 Jul 2025, 10:57 PM
Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has asked authorities to explore the possibility of preparing a separate voter list and polling booths for voters aged 18-33, ahead of the next general election that may be held before Ramadan, if all preparations are completed.
The directive came during a high-level meeting on Wednesday focused on election readiness.
Chief Advisor’s Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam revealed the instruction at a press briefing in the evening at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.
“The chief advisor has instructed that voters aged between 18 and 33, many of whom will be casting ballots for the first time, be considered for a separate list,” said Shafiqul.
“He also wants separate voting booths set up at polling centres for this group.”
He explained the rationale behind the move: “These young people were unable to vote in the last three controversial elections -- in 2014, 2018, and 2024, held under Sheikh Hasina's rule. This generation deserves the opportunity to vote freely and visibly.”
According to Shafiqul, the chief advisor acknowledged that such arrangements would require logistical planning and administrative coordination, and has asked relevant departments to examine how to implement this effectively.
Shafiqul said, “The chief advisor held an important meeting earlier in the day with the home advisor, national security advisor, and heads of different law-enforcing agencies.”
He also spoke about other key directives from the meeting, including completion of all election-related law and order preparations by December, and the recruitment and training of 17,000 new members of police, the BGB, and the Coast Guard ahead of the polls.
