As many as 243 Rohingya people have managed to include their names in the electoral roll, which the authorities said the refugees used fake documents to become voters.
The Rohingyas collected necessary documents from local representatives in exchange of money, authorities said.
An investigation of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) found that names of the Rohingyas might have included when the EC updated its voter list for 32 upazilas of five districts in Chattogram division.
The BBS sent a list of 243 voters, possibly Rohingyas, to the Chattogram Regional Election Commission office in July with a request to verify their details again.
The commission, however, admitted its failure to stop the inclusion of Rohingyas in voter list and blamed the local representatives’ cooperation to the refugees.
“There is nothing to deny that Rohingyas become voters using different strategies. The commission can’t do anything either,” said Muhamamd Hasanuzzaman, who is Chattogram Regional Election Commissioner.
“We can’t prevent it. To be voters, Rohingyas come with all necessary documents that they got from local representatives.
“Identifying Rohingyas isn’t possible as they provide proper documents,” said Hasanuzzaman.
According to this commissioner, local representatives provide these papers in exchange of money.
The commission, however, started the verification process to the BBS’ list.
“The list has been sent to the district concerned and local authorities are looking into it,” said Hasanuzzaman.
Last month, authorities revoked the voter application of 5 to 6 Rohingyas from different upazilas of Chattogram
“They (Rohingyas) admitted of collecting the documents from local representatives in exchange of money,” Chattogram district election officer Munir Hossain Khan told Bangla Tribune.
According to this election officer, a ring is active, who helps these refugees to obtain these documents.
He, however, advocates for the local representatives’ role to stop inclusion of Rohingyas in the electoral roll.
“There is no alternative to the cooperation from local representatives to prevent Rohingyas from becoming voters (in Bangladesh),” said Khan.