A significant number of Bangladeshi expatriates have arrived in Sylhet to cast votes in the 13th national parliamentary election slated for February 12. Abdul Mukit, President of Bangladesh Welfare Council UK, said that expatriate voting rights had been a longstanding demand. Data from the Sylhet Overseas Centre shows that many people from Sylhet division’s four districts—Sylhet, Sunamganj, Moulvibazar and Habiganj—live abroad. BNP-nominated candidates include UK BNP President MA Malik from Sylhet-3, UK BNP General Secretary Koyser M Ahmed from Sunamganj-3, and US expatriate Shawkat Ali Shaku from Sunamganj-2. Sylhet District BNP sources said around 400–500 expatriate leaders and activists have returned for each of the district’s six constituencies.
