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Published : 01 Dec 2025, 05:58 PM
Election Commission (EC) Secretary Akhtar Ahmed has said that BNP’s Acting Chairperson Tarique Rahman is not yet a registered voter, but could still be enlisted -- and even stand in the next parliamentary polls -- if the commission agrees to it.
Asked whether Tarique had been included in the voter roll on Monday, Akhtar replied with a “no”.
“To my knowledge, he has not. If the commission decides, he can register and run as a candidate. Legally, the Commission has this authority.”
The EC published the final voter list on Nov 18. Under EC instructions, only those registered up to Oct 31 will be able to cast their ballots.
Akhtar said the EC retains the authority to register any eligible person as a voter, allowing them to vote or contest an election.
Bangladesh introduced its first photo-based voter list in 2007-08.
After his release from prison in 2008, Tarique travelled to London for treatment and has not returned to Bangladesh since, leaving him unable to enrol as a voter.
His wife, Zubaida Rahman, registered after returning home following a change in the political regime.
BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia became a voter on Nov 29, 2008, using her Cantonment address.
WHAT THE LAW SAYS
According to EC officials, candidates must provide their voter information when collecting and submitting nomination papers, and must present appropriate proof during scrutiny.
Section 15 of The Electoral Rolls Ordinance 1982 outlines the EC’s power to include, remove, or correct names on the voter roll.
It says the commission may, at any time, order:
(a) the inclusion in an electoral roll of the name of any person qualified to be enrolled on such electoral roll;
(b) the deletion therefrom the name of the person who has died, or who is or has become disqualified for enrolment on such roll;
(c) to correct any entry or supply any omission therein.
An official from the NID Wing said, “To take part in an election, a person must be a voter of any area in the country. They must be enrolled before submitting their nomination paper.”
“If the commission decides to register someone, verification can be done quickly, and they can be added through the supplementary list.”
He noted that one cannot contest an election without being a voter.
“During scrutiny, nomination will be rejected if the individual is not a voter.”
The official added that enrolling people after the election schedule is announced may prompt others to approach the EC with complaints, and raise legal challenges.
Read our Bangla story for more details
