Chattagram Bureau :
Election Commission (EC) has taken special initiative to prevent Rohingya voters in three hilly areas, Chattagram and Cox’s Bazar.
According to the concerned election officials, the voter registration process of the local area will be simplified. This information was given in an exchange meeting with journalists at the Chattagram regional election officer’s office on Tuesday.
Regional election officer Yunus Ali said that the Election Commission has taken various measures so that Rohingyas and foreign nationals who are sheltered in Bangladesh in special areas inhabited by Rohingyas cannot be included in the voter list. Besides, this decision will help to facilitate the inclusion of new voters in the process of updating the voter list of genuine Bangladeshi citizens.
He said that 5 districts of Chattagram region, Chattagram, Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati, Khagrachari and Bandarban areas have been declared as special areas. Citizens of these special areas are divided into three categories for voter registration. In this category ‘A’ voters will need SSC/equivalent or above online certificate, online birth registration certificate with verifiable KER code, online citizenship certificate with verifiable KER code and national identity card of parents. However, in case of children of government employees, copies of service book, appointment letter, joining letter attested by the head of office must be provided as proof of government service.
If they do not have SSC/Equivalent or above certificate then they will be marked as ‘B’ category.
In this case, apart from online birth registration with verifiable KER code and online citizenship certificate from voters, AFIS (Automatic Fingerprint Information System) verification of parents, permanent resident certificate (issued by District Administration or Raja in case of hilly areas) or landless certificate, online land development tax payment receipt.
Or copy of passport, passport and driving license should also be attached. If one of the parents is alive and he is a voter, AFIS verification and online death certificate of the other must be submitted.
And if none of the parents are alive, online death certificate of both should be submitted.
On the other hand, the residents of special areas who do not fall under category ‘A’ and category ‘B’ will be marked as category ‘C’ for voter registration. In that case, the voter registration process will be completed through a special committee. The Regional Election Officer Yunus Ali and District Election Officer EnamulHaqueanswered various questions of the journalists in the meeting.