3,647 prisoners cast their votes via postal ballot

In the 13th National Parliamentary Election, 5,960 prisoners had registered to vote via postal ballot, among whom 3,647 have cast their votes over the last three days.

The Department of Prisons shared this information in a short message on Friday morning.

According to the Department of Prisons, 1,521 prisoners voted through postal ballots on 3 February.

The following day, 988 inmates voted, and on Thursday, another 1,138 prisoners cast their ballots.

The voting was completed within the prison premises in a peaceful environment, following all election-related rules and regulations. No untoward incidents occurred.

As per the rules, prisoner-voters are casting their votes in favor of candidates from their respective constituencies.

Prison sources said that Dhaka Central Jail (Keraniganj) has the highest number of voters among all jails in the country, with over 600 inmate-voters.

According to media reports, 22 political figures, including former ministers and political leaders held at the Keraniganj Special Central Jail, are voting via postal ballot.

Among them are Rashed Khan Menon, president of the Workers Party of Bangladesh and former minister, and Hasanul Haq Inu, president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Jasad) and former information minister.

Additionally, former police officers, former secretaries, and other political personalities are also included.

The postal ballot voting process at that special prison was organised through two dedicated booths.

In accordance with the Election Commission's prior announcement, prison authorities began the voting process on 3 February at booths set up inside the jails.

On that day, the Inspector General of Prisons (IG Prisons), Brig Gen Syed Md Motaher Hossain, visited Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj to personally inspect the voting activities.

Earlier, envelope-sealed postal ballot papers were delivered to all relevant prisons via mail.