, Jan. 20 -- The Election Commission has requested the expatriate Bangladeshis to cast their votes through postal ballots by January 25 so that the ballots can return in time before the upcoming national election and referendum scheduled for February 12.

"We've requested them to cast votes by January 25. But it does not mean that if someone posts their ballot on January 26 it will not be accepted," EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed while talking to reporters on Tuesday.

He said as long as the ballot reaches here within the stipulated time frame, it will be considered valid.

Replying to a question on whether the January 25 deadline would be extended, he said there is no scope for extension. "There is no opportunity to extend the deadline...