The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Chittagong

Nearly 40 percent work on the preparation of a fresh voter list with photographs and national identity cards has been completed in five districts of greater Chittagong region- Chittagong , Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachhari.

Official sources said the names of 27, 27,906 voters have been enrolled in the list now being prepared in the districts till January 21. The work on the project began on August 24 last year.

This performance has been achieved only in the army-assisted areas as the work on voter registration and national identity card preparation in Kutubdia, Maheshkhali ,Teknaf and Sandwip is being carried out by Bangladesh Navy.

Bangladesh Army personnel have been working closely with the local Election Commission officials in preparing an accurate voter list and introducing national identity card with digital photograph.

Work on voter registration and taking photographs have already been completed in Chittagong City Corporation (CCC), Raozan, Sitakunda and Anowara upazila under Chittagong district, Bandarban Pourasabha and Sadar thana , Thanchi upazila under Bandarban district, Khagrachhari Pourasabha and Sadar thana and Mohalchhari upazila under Khagrachhari district, Rangamati Pourasabha and Sadar thana and Rajsthali upazila under Rangamati district areas.

The process in Hathazari upazila in Chittagong, Ruma upazila in Bandarban, Matiranga upazila in Khagrachhari, Barkal upazila in Ragamati and Cox's Bazar Pourasabha and Sadar thana was progressing fast, the sources said.

The numbers of voters so far enrolled in CCC areas are 15,48,362, Raozan -2, 02,9 36 , Sitakunda-2, 21,605, Anowara - 1,51,072, Hathazari -1,10,942 , Bandarban Pourasabha and Sadar thana- 49,223, Thanchi-13,020, Ruma-5,888, Khagrachhari Pourasabha and Sadar thana- 63,306, Mohalchhari-15,198, Matiranga-23,530, Rangamati Pourasabha and Sadar thana-75,511, Rajsthali- 16,949, Barkal-26,392and Cox's Bazar Pourasabha and Sadar thana -2,01,036.

A total of 794 army personnel, including officers, have been involved in the voter registration and national identity card preparations work in the region.

"We are hopeful of completing the tasks within the stipulated timeframe of July next as set by the Election Commission. Because, all concerned have put in their best effort with adequate logistic supports to achieved the target and till date the progress is satisfactory" an official preferring not to be named told BSS on Wednesday.

Choppers of Bangladesh Air Force were being utilised for 79 most inaccessible remote places under 3 CHT districts to carry sufficient manpower for conducting the process and logistics like power generators, cameras and lap top computers.

" We are also optimistic of completing the voter enrollment and ID card preparation work in CHT areas within the stipulated time by facing all obstacles though the job in the CHT areas more difficult than the plain lands" the officials said.