A Revolutionary Right Overdue
In the wake of Bangladesh’s 2024 revolution of democracy, a new dawn has risen over the country—a dawn of hope, healing, and renewal of participatory democracy. At the forefront of this revolution stands Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser, with the responsibility to guide the country out of a crisis point of moral leadership and constitutional rebirth. Under his globally respected leadership, Bangladesh is beginning to redefine itself not merely as a working democracy, but as a more representative and accountable republic.
Amidst this national rebirth, a powerful but long-side-lined voice is now being heard—the voice of the Bangladeshi diaspora. With over 13 million citizens living across the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America, these children of the nation are no ordinary expatriates; they are the country’s economic backbone. Their combined remittances alone in 2023 were worth over $21.5 billion, and up to mid-2024, their total was $28 billion. But aside from economic assistance, they have remained steadfast in emotional and political loyalty to their country, at times acting as Bangladesh’s optimists and strong ambassadors to the world.
But these “remittance warriors” remain mute in the most fundamental democratic ceremony: the ballot. Welcomed with garlands at airports, praised in eulogies in public speeches, and courted amidst economic crises, they are ironically denied entry to the very mechanism that decides the future they so disproportionately stake. Their slogan is not for eulogistic accolades—it is for constitutional affirmation. Their demand is not a petition—it is a rightful insistence on being heard.
This article argues that the time has come—indeed, way overdue—for Bangladesh to make overseas voting an integral part of its democratic renewal. As Dr. Yunus embarks on the task of recovering democratic integrity on a herculean scale, enfranchising the diaspora simply can’t be an afterthought. It must be a priority. Because a democracy that disenfranchises millions of its most dedicated citizens is, by definition, not yet complete. Empowering their vote is not just a gesture of fairness—it is a testament to Bangladesh’s dedication to building an inclusive and progressive political future.
Why Remittance Warriors Should be Entitled to Vote: A Democratic Justice and Economic Reciprocity Reasoning
The demand for voting rights by Bangladesh’s remittance warriors—the country’s millions of workers and foreigners abroad—is not only rational but also a country of necessity and democratic justice. These women and men, who work under challenging conditions from the Middle East to Southeast Asia, Europe, and North America, Australia, are not just earners of domestic incomes— who are the economic backbone of Bangladesh, constantly propping up the nation through economic slumps and political turmoil. And these same citizens are deliberately kept out of the democratic process. Their political exclusion reveals a profound contradiction in Bangladesh’s democratic politics: the ones who stabilized regimes, funded development, and rescued the economy are denied the most basic right to participate in shaping the direction of the country—their vote.
A Democratic and Moral Imperative
The revolutionary upheaval in 2024, which overthrew over a decade of autocratic rule, ushered in the promise of participatory democracy and accountability. But it can be achieved unless every Bangladeshi citizen, irrespective of where they are physically present, is made to exercise their democratic entitlements. The diaspora is not cut off from national life; instead, they are rooted in Bangladesh’s economic, social, and cultural life. These citizens:
- Have profound and lasting ties with their families, local communities, and hometowns.
- Send billions of dollars annually, keeping GDP and foreign reserves intact.
- Affected by labor rights, education, health, and tax policy—yet no voice in deciding them.
To deprive them of a vote is not simply an exclusion; it is a violation of democratic ethics as much as constitutional principles. Why?
- Economic Backbone Deserves Political Recognition
The Overseas Bangladeshis’ record of contributions is unparalleled. Every year, they send over $28 billion to the economy, resulting in one of the nation’s largest foreign exchange earners and stabilizing the nation’s current account balance. During times of international crisis—such as the COVID-19 pandemic or economic misrule in the years of Hasina—it was their steady stream of remittances that saved the nation. But while serving as the nation’s most reliable economic lifeline, they have no voice in the election of their representatives or monetary policy direction. The paradox—a people who power the economy but have no seat at the table—shatters the foundation of a participatory republic. Political contribution without political representation is an unjust imbalance.
- Political Influence Without Representation: The Hasina Paradox
There is an irony of history in the fact that the very remittance economy that funded Sheikh Hasina’s long-standing regime was sustained by a population excluded from the political process. Remittances from migrant workers funded giant infrastructure projects topped up reserves and enabled the government to maintain an illusion of economic authority. But when the same citizens began to complain about totalitarian governance, human rights abuses, and corruption, they were marginalized and muted. Their legitimate demand for participation through the ballot box was ignored.
They responded by switching en masse to unofficial Hundi money transfer networks in a silent protest of the denial of human rights of political participation. This unobtrusive economic resistance is an indication of profound disillusionment and passive civic rebellion on the part of those who used to keep the economy running. It is a sign that cannot be ignored.
- Democratic Inclusion: A Constitutional and Global Standard
Bangladesh’s Constitution, under Article 11, promises a participatory democratic system. That promise is rendered hollow when millions of voters are left out of voting participation simply because they are outside the nation. The vote is an international democratic norm, and the majority have already included the right to vote among their diasporas. Overseas citizens have been enabled through postal ballots, embassy voting, and secure online processes in the Philippines, Indonesia, Mexico, and South Africa for years.
Besides, international bodies such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Development Program (UNDP) recommend transnational citizens’ inclusive electoral traditions. Democratic republic that Bangladesh is, and a member of various international conventions, it cannot but fall in line. Most importantly, if a nation gains economically from its expatriates, it is morally obligated to enfranchise them in the political domain.
- Strategic Value in National Policymaking
Not only do foreign migrant workers send remittances home, they come back with international experience, policy acumen, and global knowledge that would significantly enhance national discourse. Having first-hand experience with overseas labor markets, regulatory institutions, and models of rule, they are well-positioned to make informed remarks on labor reform, migration policy, and international diplomacy.
By making overseas Bangladeshis part of the political process, the nation can potentially widen the scope and depth of policymaking, enabling more world-oriented development blueprints. Politicizing them is not actually about rights—it is a shrewd investment in national progress.
- A Revolutionary Mandate: In Tribute to the Spirit of 2024
The 2024 revolution was not just one of toppling a regime, it was one of remaking citizenship, reestablishing justice, and forging an inclusive political culture. To be true to the spirit of that movement, the transitional government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus must be devoted to enshrining overseas Bangladeshis’ right to vote as a building block of democratic rebirth.
Anything less than full inclusion would threaten to repeat the exclusionary practices of the past. A people-born democracy now must reach out to all its people—regardless of where they reside. This is not merely a political duty; it is a moral reckoning and a moment of history.
Bangladesh is at a crossroads where it can either proceed on the ancient exclusion or choose complete democratic representation. Remittance fighters who send not only their earnings but their love, work, and dedication to the nation deserve a rightful role in the destiny of their country. Granting them the vote is not merely a matter of law; it is an act of sheer justice, recompense, and national pride.
Make them heard—not only in dollars but on the ballot.
Political Inclusion Is Economic Justice: Let the Diaspora Decide
Bangladesh’s remittance warriors are so much more than economic benefactors—they are the very lifeblood of the financial well-being of the country and the bedrock supporters on its journey through crisis and rebirth. But even with their sacrifice and hard work, these people remain politically disenfranchised. Their boycott of the polls is not only a slap in the face to democratic ideals but also a refusal to recognize the people who have kept the economy going through its darkest hour.
It is time to move beyond symbolic gestures and act on their citizenship in the fullest sense—by making them voteable. By embassy-based Voting, postal Voting, or secure digital means, the mechanisms exist; what does not exist is the political will to act on inclusion. As Bangladesh moves towards rebuilding its institutions in the post-revolution period, giving its overseas citizens the franchise is not just good governance—it is long-overdue justice.
Their voices resound in clearness, in conviction, and in the urgent craving for acknowledgment:
- “No National Election Without Overseas Bangladeshis. This is not a political slogan per se—it is a righteous cry for justice, a fundamental axiom of true democracy, and an exigency of the hour.”
— Z. Chowdhury, now residing in Atlanta, USA
- “We send our sweat and blood back to our country each month, why can’t we send our votes?”
— Shamim Hossain, contractor, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- “Our remittances sustain the country, yet our voices remain dead. We have a right to vote.”
— Nazrul Islam, electrician, Doha, Qatar
- “We are not just workers, we are citizens. Our vote should return home like our wages do.”
— Rafiqul Alam, factory supervisor, Klang Valley, Malaysia
- “Diaspora-less democracy is a half-written book. We are the missing page.”
— Mohammad Farid, transport worker, Dubai, UA
- “When Bangladesh required foreign exchange, we came forward. Now we ask: will Bangladesh come forward to give us our vote?”
— Jamal Uddin, hotel employee, Muscat, Oman
- “We built roads, homes, and dreams in our homeland—now let us become part of its future construction through our vote.”
— Salahuddin Ahmed, welder, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- “We are the silent majority abroad. It is time our silence turned into a vote that echoes across the nation.”.
— Habibur Rahman, plantation laborer, Sabah, Malaysia
- “No embassy need only be a passport office—it must be where our democratic rights are held in respect.”
— Kamal Mia, Abu Dhabi, UAE cleaner
- “Voting is not a privilege of the few—it is a right of everyone. We demand ballot access in all foreign missions.”
— Ruhul Amin, Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia technician
- “We migrated from our home country for survival and not to give up our citizenship. Our vote is the last connection we have with home.”
— Mehedi Hasan, restaurant staff, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- “I have been a committed party member of the BNP for decades. But if the party fails to come to our rescue in securing our rightful position in the national voter list, I shall be compelled to withdraw party support—not only I, but my whole family in Bangladesh. As a second act of protest, I shall desist from sending money through formal banking channels.”.
— Sajib Mia, Bangladeshi Expatriate Worker, Saudi Arabia
Their words are a call to deep civic consciousness and an earsplitting truth: political engagement is not a favor—but their right. To ignore their call is to ignore the foundation of participatory democracy. It is time that Bangladesh listens, legislates, and leads.
Global Comparisons: Learning from Regional and Global Peers
Though Bangladesh has fallen behind in implementing a formal foreign voting process, several South Asian and international peers have adopted this democratic privilege:
- India: Although Voting is only available for non-resident Indians (NRIs) physically located in India at election time, there are attempts to introduce proxy and e-postal Voting.
- Pakistan: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) conducted i-voting for overseas Pakistanis on an experimental basis in the 2018 general elections.
- Philippines: A model country, allowing overseas citizens to vote via embassies or by mail since 2004, with open processes of registration and ballot-casting.
- Indonesia: Allows overseas Voting at missions or through mobile ballot boxes overseas.
- Sri Lanka and Nepal: Legally commenced discussions but lag regarding adopting overseas voting systems.
Bangladesh’s diaspora is one of the biggest in the world but still lacks a fully functional overseas voting system, defying international practice as well as constitutional requirements for representative inclusion.
Strategic Framework: Facilitating Overseas Voting for Bangladeshis
To bring the right of Bangladeshi expatriate citizens to vote into being, the government must adopt a clear, phased, and technologically feasible strategy based on the twin pillars of legal legitimacy, administrative readiness, and civic engagement. This strategic roadmap specifies the four building blocks that must be put in place to institutionalize overseas Voting: Legal Reform, Registration of Voters, Infrastructure for Diplomats, and Technological Capability.
- Legal Reform and Policy Declaration
The first and most basic process for overseas Voting is the amendment of the existing electoral legislation to constitutionally set out the expatriate Bangladeshis’ right to vote in national elections. The existing legal framework, the Representation of the People Order (RPO) of 1972, needs to be amended by including a specific provision for granting voting rights to all citizens living abroad. These legal reforms ought to outline eligibility conditions, voting methods, and due process safeguards to provide transparency and equity.
Parallel to this amendment, the Jatiya Sangsad (the National Parliament) has to pass an exhaustive bill enacting different modes of Voting by Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs)—absentee voting through embassies, postal Voting, and safe electronic voting mechanisms. Such a law has also made provision for setting up an Overseas Electoral Coordination Cell (OECC) under the Bangladesh Election Commission (BEC) to coordinate and administer the overseas vote process, ensure integrity, and deal with complaints.
These amendments are anything but new. Overseas Voting is already part of the electoral code of India, Indonesia, and the Philippines as an exemplar that can be copied and adopted by Bangladesh.
- Voter Registration Campaign
Once legal provisions have been enacted, the subsequent step includes mass mobilization of voter registration among the global Bangladeshi diaspora. This has to begin with an awareness campaign, employing the slogan “আমার ভোট, আমার অধিকার (My Vote, My Right)” to arouse and sensitize NRBs to their democratic right and registration processes.
The campaign must be initiated on various levels:
- Registration points and information centers will be the consulates and embassies.
- Bangladesh diaspora organizations and community groups in countries such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA can be mobilized as allies to organize seminars, town halls, and workshops.
- Multilingual media campaigns can be broadcast via satellite television, radio, social media, and expatriate press.
- At the same time, the Election Commission of Bangladesh must introduce a safe, multi-language online registration system connected with government databases allowing eligible NRBs to:
- Upload accepted documents (e.g., National ID, biometric passport, work permit, or residency card).
- Link their identity with a permanent home constituency in Bangladesh.
- Schedule an appointment for biometric verification and photo-taking at the nearest Bangladeshi mission overseas.
This must be clear, secure, and convenient, allowing millions of expatriates to sign up without bureaucracy or physical discomfort.
- Infrastructure Development at Diplomatic Missions
For international Voting to be viable and significant, Bangladeshi embassies and consulates must be transformed into mini-election centers that can coordinate voting logistics with professionalism and integrity. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the Election Commission, must launch a capacity-building initiative to upgrade all foreign missions with:
- Tamper-proof ballot boxes and privacy screens equipped in secure voting booths.
- Election officials who are trained, selected from diplomatic staff and empowered by the Election Commission to oversee the voting process, verify identities, and prevent malpractice.
- Encrypted computer transmission devices to transmit electronic votes or scanned ballots securely to counting centers in Bangladesh, reducing the risk of fraud, loss, or delay.
Transport ballot mobile teams, particularly in high-density (e.g., Saudi Arabian or Malaysian labor camps), to enable remote in-person Voting through accredited mobile stations.
In addition to this, each mission should create a specific Help Desk to manage voter complaints, resolve disputes, and ensure effective document and inquiry handling during the registration and voting process.
- Monitoring, Data Security, and International Oversight (additionally recommended pillar)
To build public trust in the overseas voting system, the government must implement a robust monitoring and security mechanism:
- Invite international observers such as Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), election observers from regional organizations such as SAARC, and competent civil society actors.
- Use international-grade cybersecurity standards, such as multi-factor authentication, end-to-end encryption, and blockchain-based audit trails by all digital platforms.
- Implement a grievance redressal mechanism accessible via hotline and digital channels to enable voters to provide feedback on irregularities and receive timely support.
A Nation That Votes Together, Grows Together
“The strength of a nation lies in the unity of its people—wherever they may live.”
Under the visionary leadership of Nobel Laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh stands at the threshold of a democratic renaissance. For the first time in its history, the nation has both the moral clarity and political will to right a long-standing wrong: the disenfranchisement of its diaspora. Through the strategic implementation of an inclusive electoral framework, Bangladesh now has the opportunity to embrace not just economic contributions from its overseas citizens, but their political voices as well.
These remittance warriors—millions of Bangladeshis who toil in distant lands—have never stopped loving their homeland. They have built lives abroad, but their hearts have remained rooted in the soil of Bangladesh. They have sent not just billions of dollars, but also hope, dignity, and global respect. Yet, for decades, they have been denied the most fundamental right of citizenship: the right to vote.
This is not merely about ballots—it is about belonging.
The plan to enfranchise Bangladeshis abroad is not only legally and technologically feasible, it is morally imperative. With digital advancements, embassy infrastructure, and political consensus, the path to inclusion is no longer a distant dream—it is an actionable reality. By extending the franchise to those living beyond its borders, Bangladesh will transform passive expatriates into active citizens—individuals who help shape the very future they continue to invest in.
As Dr. Yunus often reminds us, “We must design systems that include, not exclude.” Giving the vote to our diaspora is more than a procedural reform—it is a statement of national unity, a reaffirmation that democracy knows no borders when identity, sacrifice, and love for the motherland are shared.
Let this be the moment we declare: no Bangladeshi—regardless of geography—shall be left behind in the journey toward a fair, representative, and inclusive democracy.