Bangladesh Voter Data 2026: Voter Rolls, Dual Citizenship Dispute, and Election Commission Scrutiny
As Bangladesh prepares for its **13th general election and constitutional referendum on 12 February 2026, the country’s voter database and electoral process have come under intense national scrutiny. According to official data published by the Bangladesh Election Commission (EC), an estimated 127.7 million citizens are eligible to vote in the upcoming polls, reflecting continued growth in the electorate ahead of what many observers describe as a pivotal national vote.
The EC has also expanded participation mechanisms, including postal voting for expatriate Bangladeshis, with more than a million citizens signing up to cast ballots from abroad and domestically through the “Postal Vote BD” system.
Dual Citizenship and Candidate Eligibility Debate
In the weeks leading up to nomination deadlines, the issue of dual citizenship among prospective candidates emerged as a key flashpoint. Under Bangladeshi law, only citizens without foreign nationality can sit in parliament; however, the interpretation of this rule has sparked controversy.
During review and appeal hearings on nomination papers, the EC has been tasked with adjudicating cases where aspirants faced disqualification due to dual citizenship status. Reports indicate that the EC has, in some cases, upheld candidacies after candidates submitted affidavits affirming they had renounced or were in the process of renouncing foreign citizenship.
Opposition voices, including leaders within the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), have publicly alleged that the EC’s handling of dual-citizenship cases has been inconsistent and may have resulted in unequal treatment between candidates. Those critics claim that some BNP candidates faced rejection due to dual citizenship documentation issues, while similar cases from other parties were approved, raising questions about fairness and transparency.
BNP representatives have also urged the electoral authority to provide full constituency-wise voter data, alleging unusual voter migration patterns and registering concerns over the accuracy of official figures.
Institutional Integrity and Observer Missions
These electoral tensions come amid broader debates over the institutional independence of the EC and election administration. International observer missions, including delegations from the Commonwealth and Asian Network for Free Elections (ANFREL), are being deployed to monitor the process, with several organisations confirming the participation of more than 300 observers ahead of the polls.
Despite the controversies, the Election Commission maintains that it is applying the law on dual citizenship and other eligibility criteria consistently, and emphasises its role in upholding the legal framework during the electoral cycle.
