Indifference to voting an ominous sign for democracy: Mahbub Talukdar

Election Commissioner Mahbub Talukdar today expressed grave concern over the present voting system and underscored the need for reformation of the electoral process.

"Public indifference to voting is now being noticed. It is an ominous sign for democracy," Mahbub Talukdar said while addressing a programme in Dhaka on the occasion of National Voters' Day.

The lack of trust in the voting system will have to be addressed at any cost, the commissioner said.

While addressing the same programme, Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda said that the number of voters in the country at present is around 10,98,19,112.

Of them, 5,54,82,530 are male while 5,43,36,222 are female voters, he said.

Some 360 transgender people were added in the voter list for the first time, he added.

According to an EC official, 55,79, 030 new voters were added to the updated voter list.