A legal notice has been sent to the government urging immediate steps to ensure the voting rights of persons with disabilities, including the visually and physically impaired, in the upcoming national parliamentary election.
The notice was sent via email on Tuesday (25 November) by Barrister Mohammad Humayun Kabir Pallab of the Supreme Court, on behalf of the human rights organisation Law and Life Foundation Trust, along with Supreme Court lawyers Naeem Sardar and Shah Sarwar Salf Shaon.
The notice names the Chief Election Commissioner, the Election Commission Secretary, the Secretary of the Local Government Ministry, the Secretary of the Public Administration Ministry, and the Secretary of the Ministry of Social Welfare as respondents.
It called on the authorities to take necessary measures to protect the voting rights of persons with disabilities, exempt them from deposit requirements to allow their participation as candidates in all elections, and provide a certain number of reserved seats. The notice also urged the introduction of the Braille voting system for visually impaired voters.
The notice warned that failure to take action within five days would lead to a writ petition being filed in the High Court in the public interest, along with appropriate legal measures.