The Election Commission (EC) has launched a "historic" initiative to grant voting rights to over 13 million Bangladeshi expatriates, unveiling a Tk 49.44 crore project titled “Development and Implementation of Voting System Outside the Country”.
While the move has been hailed as a step toward inclusive democracy, scrutiny has emerged over the allocation of funds, with nearly Tk 15.7 crore (31.7%) set aside for 30 consultants, including a team leader to be paid Tk 1.06 crore over 23 months.
The project proposal, cleared by Planning Adviser Wahiduddin Mahmud and approved as a Government Order (GO) on August 19, will be implemented by the EC Secretariat from June 2025 to 2027. Notably, as the total cost remains under Tk 50 crore, it bypassed the need for ECNEC (Executive Committee of the National Economic Council) approval.
Consultants command over 30% of budget
According to the project proposal, a substantial portion of the total budget, Tk 15 crore 67 lakh 85 thousand, has been allocated for consultancy services, making up approximately 31.7% of the overall project cost of Tk 49 crore 43 lakh 56 thousand. This includes high-value positions critical to the development of the postal voting system.
The Project Team Leader (Consultant) is set to receive Tk 1.058 crore over a 23-month period, reflecting the seniority and leadership role required. Another key position, the Governance and Strategic Planning Consultant, has been assigned a salary of Tk 89.70 lakh. Meanwhile, consultants for Procurement, Business Analyst, and Senior Programmer roles will each be paid Tk 69 lakh, as will the Blockchain Developer and Cryptography Consultant, underscoring the emphasis on secure digital infrastructure.
The Digital Transformation and Solution Architect is slated to receive Tk 71 lakh, while the Database Administrator (Consultant) will be compensated with Tk 56 lakh. These allocations highlight the government’s focus on hiring expert technical and strategic personnel to ensure the successful implementation of the country’s first large-scale overseas voting initiative.
The EC defends the high consultancy costs, citing the technical complexity of building a secure, digital postal voting system.
Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed of the Election Commission told Jago News: "This is a knowledge-intensive, consultancy-driven project. International projects of this nature often allocate over 80% of their budget to consultancy, in one case I’ve seen, it was mostly for transport and equipment. Here, the intellectual input is central. We’re building a secure, scalable, and internationally compliant voting platform from scratch."
Other key expenditures
Beyond consultancy, the project budget includes several key operational and technical expenditures aimed at building a robust and functional postal voting system.
A significant allocation of Tk 8.32 crore has been set aside for the procurement of information and communication technology (ICT) equipment, essential for system development and deployment.
Another Tk 4.21 crore is dedicated to data storage infrastructure, ensuring secure and scalable handling of voter information. Connectivity and digital communication services, including internet, fax, telex, OTP, and email systems, are allocated Tk 15.57 crore, reflecting the system’s reliance on real-time, secure digital transmission.
Additionally, Tk 1.35 crore is earmarked for training programs to equip officials and technical staff with the necessary skills, while Tk 1.55 crore is proposed for survey costs related to voter outreach and feasibility assessments. Smaller but necessary expenses include Tk 20 lakh for honorariums, Tk 1.4 lakh for furniture, and Tk 1.64 lakh for hospitality, covering logistical and administrative needs throughout the project’s implementation period from 2025 to 2027.
The Planning Commission’s Additional Secretary Md Abdur Rouf, head of the Socio-Economic Infrastructure Department, confirmed the project’s approval: "This is a highly technical initiative aimed at ensuring expatriate voting rights. We’ve reviewed the EC’s proposal thoroughly. No major cuts were made. The project is now officially approved."
A step toward inclusive democracy
The interim government has prioritized enfranchising overseas Bangladeshis ahead of the 13th National Election. Currently, 123.7 million voters are registered in Bangladesh, including 13 million+ living abroad, many of whom have long been excluded from national and local polls despite their economic contributions.
An advisory committee, comprising experts from BUET, Dhaka University, and MIST, studied three possible models: online voting, postal voting, and proxy voting. After stakeholder consultations, proxy voting was temporarily shelved, while postal and online systems were deemed most viable, secure, and participatory.
The EC plans to develop software to test the feasibility, security, and reliability of online voting, while fully implementing postal voting both for expatriates and eligible domestic voters, as permitted by law.
Vision: Secure, digital, and democratic
The Commission describes the project as a milestone in Bangladesh’s democratic evolution – aligning with global standards for digital governance and electoral inclusivity.
"No citizen should be left behind in the democratic process," the EC stated. "This system will be secure, user-friendly, and scalable — ensuring maximum voter participation and restoring the constitutional rights of expatriate Bangladeshis."
With the project now greenlit, all eyes are on the EC to deliver a transparent, efficient, and fraud-proof system that lives up to its promise, not just in technology, but in trust.