Rohingyas trying to be voters illegally: EC

The displaced Rohingya people, who took shelter in Cox’s Bazar fleeing persecution in Myanmar, are involved in illegal attempts to collect national identity (NID) cards here from different election offices in the country.

“It has recently been observed that Rohingyas are involved in evil efforts to collect NIDs from various districts and upazila election offices in the country,” said the Election Commission today (28 November).

But no one other than Bangladeshi citizens has scope to be enrolled in the country’s voter lists as per the article 7 (1) (a) of the Electoral Rolls Act 2009, said the commission.

“Despite this, some unscrupulous people and circles of brokers in Bangladesh are helping Rohingyas become voters, which is a punishable offense under the Electoral Rolls Act, 2009 and the National Identity Registration Act, 2010,” the EC added.

In this context, EC asked all to inform its upazila, district, regional election offices or the EC secretariat if any foreign national is involved in evil efforts to collect NID.

People have been asked to provide information regarding such evil attempts through the following channels; telephone- 02-55007600, email – [email protected], call centre 105 (toll-free), or postal mail addressing the secretary of EC secretariat, Nirbachan Bhaban, Plot No E-14/Z, Agargaon, Dhaka-1207.