Over 58.64 lakh new voters in Bangladesh: EC

The number of voters in the country has increased to 11,91,51,440 following the inclusion of more than 58.6 lakh new voters, according to the up-to-date list of the Election Commission (EC).

The final list saw 5.18% growth in voter numbers, the EC said while disclosing the updated figures on Thursday morning, marking National Voter Day 2023.

Of the total voters, 6,04,45,724 are male and 5,87,04,879 are female. Also, 837 transgender voters were incorporated under the identity of the third gender in the updated roll.

The voter list was updated five times since the inception of the list in 2007-08.

Before disclosing the latest numbers, the chief election commissioner, commissioners and EC other officials organised a procession in Dhaka to mark this year's National Voter Day.

CEC urges parties to resolve their issues

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said the EC will not mediate between the political parties and urged the parties to resolve their own issues.

"If there is a difference of opinion, try to resolve it. The EC cannot mediate. We humbly ask all political parties to participate in the elections and bring balance in the polling stations," he said while participating in the Voter Day procession. 

Regarding the low voter turnout at the centres, CEC said, "My colleagues have already informed us that voter turnout has been low. However, the overall turnout has not been low, except in some centres."

"When elections are highly competitive, voter turnout is higher. The voter turnout at the by-elections was slightly lower," he said. 

"Voter turnout may have been low due to various reasons, could have been due to weather, natural disasters or winter. But what is important is whether the voters faced any obstacles while coming to centres," Habibul Awal said, adding that the responsibility to bring voters is never solely of the Commission.

'We are in a crisis, no doubt'

Addressing a discussion at Nirbachan Bhaban in city's Agargaon on Thursday evening following the Voter Day procession, CEC Kazi Habibul Awal has acknowledged that the Commission is in a crisis over the unity of the political parties. 

"We are in a crisis, no doubt. Because, we still do not see a consensus among parties regarding the upcoming general election, which is essential. We do not want any political crisis before or during the elections," Awal said, adding that there is no scope to take elections lightly.

Referring to people's confidence in the electoral system, the CEC said, "Jatiya Party leader GM Quader has said that people's confidence in the system has come down to zero. It is not a good thing if there is some truth in it." 

"The Election Commission has the responsibility to restore that confidence. We have to earn back people's trust," Habibul Awal said, adding that voters need to be educated about the importance of their presence during parliamentary polls.

Election Commissioner Brigadier General Md Ahsan Habib Khan said, "We want to present a fair election to everyone and the Commission will have the highest efforts to create a suitable environment for voters, parties, candidates, agents, and media workers. We want everyone to cooperate for that to happen."