CHATTOGRAM, Sept 24, 2024 (BSS) – The Election Commission (EC) has taken special initiatives to prevent Rohingyas from being voters in five districts of Chattogram division including Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar.

EC has also taken steps to simplify the voter registration process.

Regional election officer Yunus Ali came up with the information during a view exchange meeting with local journalists at the Chattogram regional election officer this   morning.

Yunus Ali said the EC has taken various measures to prevent Rohingyas and foreign nationals who have taken shelter in special areas in Bangladesh from being voters.

Besides, this decision will also help facilitate the inclusion of new voters in the process of updating the voter list for genuine Bangladeshi citizens, he added.

He said that five districts of Chattogram region, Chattogram, 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 the category 'A', people must have SSC/equivalent or above online certificates, online birth registration certificate with verifiable QR code, online citizenship certificate with verifiable QR code and national identity card of parents, he said.

However, in case of the children of the government employees, copies of service book, appointment letter, joining letter attested by the head of office must be provided as proof of the government service, he said, adding that if they do not have SSC/equivalent or above education certificates, then they will be marked as 'B' category.

“In this case, they need to attach Automatic Fingerprint Information System (AFIS) 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 and driving license,” he said.

He said if one of the parents is alive and he/she is a voter, AFIS verification and online death certificate of the other must be submitted. If none of the parents are alive, online death certificate of both should be submitted, he added.

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,” he said.