Kushtia, Feb. 9 -- By a roadside in Jagalba village of Kushtia, an elderly couple live in a fragile tin-and-polythene shelter that barely protects them from rain or winter cold, but they see elections after a time gap.

For Babu Sheikh and his wife Kajol Rekha, the upcoming national election will pass like many before it without their participation.

Their exclusion is not due to a lack of interest. Instead, it hinges on Tk 650, the amount they were told they must pay as house tax to complete voter registration.

Unable to arrange the money, the couple say they have once again been deprived of their right to vote in Bangladesh's 13th national election.

"We live hand to mouth," said Kajol Rekha, sitting inside the makeshift hut that has b...