DHAKA—In a move that scientists are calling "way safer than actually going outside," the Bangladesh Election Commission announced Tuesday that the 2026 elections will take place entirely inside a computer so nobody gets hit with a brick.
The new system, called the "Mega-Safe Super-Voter Metaverse," was designed by a bunch of smart AI robots to solve the country’s tiny problem of people getting "super punched" or "accidentally exploded" while trying to vote.
"We noticed that in the past, people sometimes got a little bit too excited and started throwing chairs," said Chief Election Officer, Mr. Nurul "The Tech-Guy" Islam. "Now, with the power of AI, the only thing that can get hurt is your internet connection."
How the Virtual Voting Works
Instead of standing in a long line in the sun where a riot might break out, voters can stay in their pajamas. They just put on a VR headset (or use their cracked smartphone screens) and fly into a digital version of Dhaka that has zero% chance of tear gas.
The AI, nicknamed "Vote-Bot 3000," uses a special "Peace Filter." If any avatar tries to pick up a digital stick or shout something mean, the AI instantly turns their character into a harmless, dancing pineapple for ten minutes.
The Five-Dollar Upgrade
While the basic avatar looks like a gray marshmallow, the government is letting citizens pay 5 dollars to look "extra cool" while they save democracy. For the price of a few samosas, voters can choose from premium skins, including:
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The "Golden Tiger": For people who want to look fierce while clicking a button.
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The "Cyber-Rickshaw Driver": A fan favorite that comes with neon lights and a turbo-boost.
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The "Super-Student": An avatar wearing a cape and holding a laptop that never runs out of battery.
"I spent my lunch money to look like a giant robot with a Bangladeshi flag on my chest," said 13-year-old local resident, Rakib. "I can’t actually vote yet, but I’ve been practicing by flying through the virtual parliament building and doing 'the floss' dance on the roof."
A "Very Fair" Future
Critics say that the metaverse might be glitchy, but the government says that's just part of the "authentic experience."
"Last week, a glitch made everyone's heads turn into watermelons," Mr. Islam admitted. "But a watermelon has never started a street fight, so we consider this a huge win for peace."
The Election Commission promised that even if the server crashes, the AI will "probably just guess" who was going to win based on who has the coolest-looking avatar, which everyone agrees is the most scientific way to run a country.
