Local representatives ‘responsible’ for Rohingya NID scam

Many local representatives including union parishad chairmen helped the Rohingya refugees obtain Bangladeshi birth certificates, said Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda.  

"The certificates are a must to be voters. Union parishads or ward offices usually issue those for Bangladeshi citizens. Unfortunately, many Rohingyas secured the birth certificates," the CEC told journalists at the Chattogram Zila Election Office on Wednesday.

Some local representatives are responsible for that. They are involved in the offense, he added.

Journalists questioned the CEC about how some Rohingya refugees became Bangladeshi voters as after managing the Election Commission issued National Identity (NID) cards.

"The Election Commission staffers, who were arrested in this regard, used to work for the Commission on a contractual basis. They used the Commission's logistics including laptops."  

"Apart from this, some EC employees are involved in the scam. But accusations against a number of commission officials are yet to be proven."        

Huda said a Chinese citizen also managed to secure a Bangladeshi NID card by providing fake information in Feni. The commission promptly detected it and has taken legal action against the culprits.

KM Nurul Huda expressed high hopes regarding the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs).

"People have trust on EVM. Therefore, all upcoming elections will be held with the electronic machines," he commented.           

The CEC said the commission could hold the Chattogram City Corporation election next March.

Nurul Huda claimed that upcoming elections for two Dhaka City Corporations and Chattogram 8 constituency will be 100 percent fair.   

"I hope all parties will participate in the polls."