The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

The High Court Sunday declared valid the claim of the Urdu-speaking people, known as Biharis, eligible to become voters as citizens of Bangladesh.

A division bench comprising Justice MA Rashid and Justice M Ashfaqul Islam passed the order upon a writ petition filed by a group of Urdu-speaking people.

On November 26 last year, the High Court, following the writ petition, issued rule on the government and the Election Commission to show cause why the Urdu-speaking people living in different camps of the country, including "Geneva Camp" in the capital, shall not be enrolled as voters.

The High Court judgment today made its rule absolute. Presently, about 300,000 Urdu-speaking people are living in the country, including the Geneva Camp in the capital. Of them, nearly 200,000 are eligible to become voters, said Barrister Rafiqul Islam Mian, counsel for the Biharis.