Voter list update begins today
The Election Commission will start a three-phase data collection on Saturday to update country’s voter list, says UNB.
Enumerators will collect data of Bangladeshi citizens born on or before January 1, 2000 during the door-to-door data collection from 25 July to 22 September this year.
Of them, only those who were born on or before January 1, 1998 will be registered as voters in 2016, while the remaining nationals in 2017 and 2018.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad will inaugurate the data collection at Shilpakala Academy in Narsingdi district town at 11:00am on Saturday, while four election commissioners and EC secretary will be present.
The data will be collected in 189 upazilas/thanas from 25 July to 9 August in the first phase, while 184 upazilas/thanas from 16 to 30 August in the second phase and 141 upazilas/thanas from September 7 to 22 in the third phase.
The 189 upazilas/thanas in the first phase are Debiganj and Tentulia in Panchagarh, Pirganj and Haripur in Thakurgaon, Ghoraghat, Hakimpur, Nawabganj and Sadar in Dinajpur, Dimla and Saidpur in Nilphamari, Aditmari and Hatibandha in Lalmonirhat, Taraganj, Badarganj and Mithapukur in Rangpur, Ulipur, Rajarhat and Sadar in Kurigram, Phulchhari and Sadar in Gaibandha, Khetlal and Panchbibi in Joypurhat, Dhunat, Nandigram, Gabtali and Adamdighi in Bogra,
Bholahat and Shibganj in Chapainawabganj, Atrai, Manda, Dhamoirhat and Sadar in Naogaon, Bagmara, Durgapur, Charghat and Poba in Rajshahi, Bagatipara and Sadar in Natore, Ullapara, Shahjadpur and Sadar in Sirajganj, Faridpur, Atgharia and Sadar in Pabna.
Besides, Sadar in Meherpur, Daulatpur, Kumarkhali and Sadar in Kushtia, Alamdanga and Sadar in Chuadanga, Kaliganj and Sadar in Jhenidah, Abhaynagar, Keshabpur and Manirampur in Jessore, Shalikha and Sadar in Magura, Sadar in Narail, Mollahat, Sadar and Kachua in Bagerhat, Terokhada, Rupsha, Dumuria and Batiaghata in Khulna, Tala,
Kalaroa and Debhata in Satkhira, Bamna and Sadar in Barguna, Bauphal, Dashmina and Sadar in Patuakhali, Lalmohan and Sadar in Bhola, Agailjhara, Muladi and Bakerganj in Barisal, Kalhalia and Nalchity in
Jhalokathi, Sadar, Nazirpur and Kawkhali in Pirojpur, Sadar and Kotalipara in Gopalganj, Shibchar and Rajoir in Madaripur, Damudya and Sadar in Shariatpur, Char Bhadrashan, Sadarpur and Bhanga in Faridpur, Goalanda and Sadar in Rajbari, Daulatpur, Shibalaya and Ghior in Manikganj, Gazaria and Sadar in Munshiganj, Palash and Sadar in Narsingdi, Rupganj and Araihazar in Narayanganj, Dhamrai, Dohar and Nawabganj in Dhaka are among the upazilas and thanas that come under the first phase.
Kapasia, Kaliganj, Sreepur and Kaliakoir in Gazipur, Gopalpur, Bhuapur, Mirzapur, Basail and Ghatail in Tangail, Sarishabari, Sadar and Melandaha in Jamalpur, Nalitabari and Jhenaigati in Sherpur, Bhaluka, Trishal, Gafargaon, Fulbaria and Muktagachha in Mymensingh,
Durgapur, Purbadhala, Khaliajuri and Sadar in Netrakona, Nikli, Katiadi, Pakundia, Hossainpur, Kuliarchar and Karimganj in Kishoreganj, Dowarabazar, Bishwamvapur, Derai and Sadar in Sunamganj, Fenchuganj, Zakiganj, Kanighat, Gowainghat and Jaintapur in Sylhet, Kulaura and Sadar in Moulvibazar, Madhabpur, Sadar, Ajmiriganj and
Baniachong in Habiganj are also among them.
Moreover, data collection will be held in Nabinagar, Kasba, Bancharampur and Nasirnagar in Brahmanbaria, Homna, Titas, Daudkandi, Chandina, Debidwar and Laksam in Comilla, Kachua, Matlab Uttar and
Matlab Dakkhin in Chandpur, Daganbhuiyan and Parshuram in Feni, Companyganj, Sadar and Sonaimuri in Noakhali, Raipur, Ramganj and Ramgati in Laxmipur, Boalkhali, Rangunia, Raozan, Patiya, Mirsharai, Anwara and Hathazari in Chittagong, Moheshkhali, Ukhia and Sadar in Cox’s Bazar, Manikchhari, Panchhari and Mahalchhari in Khagrachhari, Kawkhali, Rajasthali and Kaptai in Rangamati, and Rowangchhari, Lama and Sadar in Bandarban.
With 2.5 percent growth of the country's exiting 9.62 crore voters, the commission estimates that some 24 lakh fresh voters will come out in 2016, and 48 lakh more in 2017 and 2018 following the data collection.
If any possible voter wants to be registered, s/he needs to have birth certificate, land deed (if any), education certificate (if any), receipt of house rent or copies of utility bills, passport (if any), NID number of father or mother or spouse.
The eligible people will also have scope to provide their respective data through online registration this year.
A total of 200 voter registration teams will work in the field across the country simultaneously.
Some 61,000 manpower, including 50,000 enumerators and 10,000 supervisors, are needed for the three-phase data collection work under 5,400 voter registration centres in 4650 union parishads, 320 municipalities, 12 cantonment boards and 439 wards of 11 city corporations across the country.
Photographs and fingerprints of the nationals born on or before January 1, 1998 will be taken in three phases from 11 August to 20 October through the voter registration centres.
But photographs and fingerprints of the remaining citizens will be taken in also three phases from 22 October to 10 February next.
The EC will make the draft updated voter list public on 2 January next to receive complaints regarding the update. After disposing of complaints, the commission will publish final updated voter list on 31 January next.
According to section 11 of the Voter List Act 2009, the Election Commission shall update the countrywide electoral rolls during January 2-31 every year.