Election Commission tightens security to prevent Rohingya involvement in voting

While the commission earlier acted to keep them off the voter list, it is now moving to stop them from taking part in any election activities

The Election Commission has ordered a series of measures to prevent Rohingya refugees from taking part in the Feb 12 national election and the referendum.

In letters sent on Wednesday, the EC instructed relevant departments and returning officers to take action based on special reports from different agencies highlighting potential risks linked to Rohingya involvement in election activities.

The parliamentary election and referendum will be held in 299 constituencies.

Law-enforcing agencies will remain deployed from Feb 8 to Feb 14, covering the four days before polling, election day, and two days afterwards, according to the home ministry.

Nearly 130 million voters are registered for the election, with polling arranged at around 43,000 centres and roughly 250,000 voting booths nationwide.

More than 1.1 million Rohingya refugees from Myanmar’s Rakhine State currently live in camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar.

Over the years, reports have surfaced of some Rohingyas spreading to other parts of the country and obtaining fake national identity cards and passports.

While the EC has previously taken steps to prevent Rohingyas from being included in the voter list, it is now moving to stop them from engaging in any election-related activities.

As part of the measures, Rohingya refugees will not be allowed to leave camps during the voting period.

The EC has also directed law-enforcing agencies to remain vigilant, strengthen identity checks, and intensify searches at checkpoints.

At a meeting in early January, a home ministry report warned of the presence of armed groups and illegal weapons inside Rohingya camps.

It noted that some Rohingya people illegally included in voter lists might attempt to vote or participate in political activities.

The report recommended preventing Rohingya involvement in politics, launching drives to recover illegal arms, setting up checkpoints at least seven days before polling, restricting unauthorised movement, and closely monitoring the movement of foreigners to maintain law and order.

Another report flagged the risk of “illegal interference” in the electoral process, including the possible use of Rohingya members by MP candidates for local campaigning, staffing polling centres, casting fake votes in exchange for money, or suppressing rival candidates.

Uncontrolled movement of Rohingya outside camps was also identified as a major risk.

The home ministry warned that Rohingya using CiC outpasses or illegally crossing barbed-wire fences into Ukhiya-Teknaf localities could worsen the law and order.

The reports also cautioned that active social groups inside camps could spread rumours or provocative messages to destabilise the environment, while armed groups such as Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO) and the Arakan Army could engage in clashes in border areas during the election period, creating fear among the public.

MEASURES

The Election Commission and the home ministry have been informed about a series of steps to mitigate risks involving Rohingya during the election period.

• Rohingya refugees will not be allowed to leave the camps during the election period. Armed Police Battalion (APBn) checkpoints must ensure 100 percent identity checks and intensified searches.

• Movement of all vehicles, including autorickshaws and motorcycles, will be suspended inside the camps on the day before polling and on election day.

• All social media platforms and Rohingya organisations active inside the camps must suspend meetings and gatherings from seven days before the vote. Mosque imams and boatmen will be used to raise awareness to prevent Rohingya from engaging in the electoral process.

• Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) patrols will be strengthened, with heightened surveillance on armed groups along the Myanmar border. Visits to the camps by local and foreign NGO officials and visitors will be restricted or discouraged during the election period.

• Local administrations will warn traders against hiring Rohingya labourers for election campaigns. To avoid large gatherings, major markets adjacent to camps -- including Balukhali, Leda and Nayapara -- will remain closed on the day before polling, election day and the following day.

• Adequate numbers of executive magistrates will be deployed in the camps, with mobile courts operating to ensure immediate legal action. Joint surveillance by APBn and BGB will be intensified around camps, including at the Morichya, Rejukhal and Whykong checkpoints.

• All political parties will be warned against involving Rohingya in any election activities. Security will be reinforced inside the camps through coordination between APBn and the Camp-in-Charge (CiC) offices to prevent risks such as campaigning for candidates, fake voting in exchange for money, or attempts to suppress rival candidates.

Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah has said that 943,050 members of different forces will be deployed to maintain law and order during the polls.

Around 800,000 officials will also be engaged in election duties.