Expatriates must play active role in politics: Hasnat

BSS :

National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Organizer for Southern Region Hasnat Abdullah on Tuesday said expatriates should play an active role in determining the country’s political leadership and exercise their voting rights in the upcoming national election.

“Despite their hard labour throughout the day, expatriates keep the country’s economic wheel running and remain emotionally connected to Bangladesh, regardless of where they live,” he said a video statement.

Hasnat said, “For over five decades since independence, expatriates have made significant contributions to the national economy, yet have remained excluded from the decision-making process regarding who would come to power or represent them in parliament.”
“Even many citizens inside the country were denied their voting rights in the past, so for expatriates the opportunity never existed,” he added.

Abdullah stated that due to continuous advocacy by the NCP, expatriates will now be able to cast their vote from abroad for the first time in the upcoming parliamentary election.
He urged them to download the Postal Vote BD mobile application and update their voter information using their passport and National ID number to ensure eligibility for voting.

Criticising the attitude of certain political elites, he said many political leaders tend to treat expatriates as third-class citizens or merely labourers. This mindset, he said, must change, as remittance fighters deserve rightful participation in determining the country’s future power structure.

Calling upon Bangladeshi expatriates across the world, Abdullah urged them to exercise their voting rights. “The ballot will be your answer-who should lead the nation and who should represent from you in parliament,” he said, wishing expatriates good health and encouraging them to take part in shaping the nation’s political future.