The High Court on Tuesday wanted to know the number of Rohingyas included in the voter list across the country and asked the authorities concerned to submit the list by August 8.
The HC bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque asked the Election Commission and Secretary to the Local Government to submit the list after hearing a supplementary petition.
Advocate Mohammad Siddik Ullah Mia stood for the petitioner while deputy attorney general Amit Das Gupta represented the state.
In 2016, an allegation was raised against the Eidgaon Union Parishad chairman of Eidgaon upazila in Cox’s Bazar district and other public representatives to include the names of Rohingyas in the voter list.
A report, published in different newspapers, said at least 370 Rohingyas were enlisted in the voter list and birth-registration in Eidgaon union.
Mohammad Hamid, a resident of the up submitted written complaint in different offices of the government seeking steps against those involved in inserting upto 38 Rohingyas in the voter list.
During investigation the local administration found the allegation true and in its report they said among the 38 people, 35 were Rohingyas. All of them were included in the voter list and National Identity card.
Later, Hamid filed a writ petition challenging the election schedule of the Eidgaon Union Parishad last year.
On April 24, the High Court wanted to know the number of Rohingya voters in Cox’s Bazar district and submit a report after investigation on it by June 6.
As no list has been submitted yet, a supplementary writ petition was filed in this regard seeking how many Rohingyas were enlisted in the voter list across the country.
The HC also asked the authorities concerned to remove 38 Rohingyas under Eidgaon union from the voter list.
It issued a rule asking the government to explain as to why the Rohingya voters should not be declared illegal.
Advocate Siddique, said 38 Rohingyas took National ID cards and inserted them in the voter list of Eidgaon union of Sadar upazila. Besides, allegations were also found that some 340 Rohingyas were also made voters under the union.