Dhaka, Sept. 13 -- The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) has officially rolled out voter registration and smart National Identity (NID) card services for Bangladeshi expatriates living in Canada, a move seen as a milestone in extending democratic rights to non-resident citizens.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin inaugurated the services on Thursday at a ceremony held at the Bangladesh High Commission in Ottawa, where he symbolically handed over smart NID cards to a group of expatriates who had completed their registration. The event marked the first formal launch of the EC's overseas programme, according to a message received in Dhaka yesterday.

"Democracy is inclusive when all citizens can take part, wherever they liv...