An uncertain situation has created over holding elections at eight union parishads under Patgram and Hatibandha upazilas where 57 former exclaves are located as names of residents of the union parishads are yet to be enlisted in the voter list.
According to election schedule, elections of Patgram and Hatibandha upazilas will be held on March 31 in the second phase. It is mentionable that voting of union parishads across the country will be held on March 22, March 31, April 23, May 7, May 28 and June 4.
District election office sources said election would be delayed at the two upazilas where 57 defunct exclaves were located as residents of the union parishads yet to make voters of Bangladesh.
Inhabitants of eight union parishads have recently submitted a memorandum to election office seeking measures to make them voters as soon as possible.
“Election of eight union parishads where former exclaves are located may be delayed,” said the source preferring anonymity.
According to Lalmonirhat election office, there are 55 past exclaves at Burimari, Patgram, Jogotber, Kuchlibari, Baura and Jongra union parishads under Patgram upazila.
Moreover, there are two former exclaves at Gotamari union parishad under Hatibandha upazila and two at Kulaghat union parishad under Sadar upazila.
Of those former enclaves, there are 1,262 Bangladeshi citizens at Kulaghat, 562 at Gotamari union parishad and 8,552 citizens at 36 defunct exclaves under Patgram upazila.
Deputy Commissioner of Lalmonirhat Habibur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that there were 59 former exclaves at Sadar, Patgram and Hatibandha upzilas of the district. At 19 defunct exclaves located at Patgram, there were no residents.
“A total of 10,366 Bangladeshi people were residing at 40 former exclaves. Of them, 195 people have left the country and built their habitation in India since exchange of enclaves between Bangladesh and India.”
Bangladesh and India exchanged 162 exclaves on August 1, 2015. After the exchange, 111 Indian enclaves have become Bangladesh territory and 51 Bangladesh enclaves have become part of Indian territory.
He said he had already talked with district election officer to resolve the issue.
Former general secretary of defunct Bangladesh-India enclaves coordination committee Azizul Islam said: “We who have become Bangladeshi citizens last year applied authorities concerned to make us voters of Bangladesh.”
He also said they were keeping contact with election officials of the district to settle the issue.
Hridoy Bormon, Nazrul Islam and Dulal Hossain, residents of Banshkata exclaves ecohed the same words.
Nazrul Islam said: “I wanted to contest in the upcoming union parishad election as a member. But March 1 is the last date for submitting nomination papers. I am still not a voter. So how can I contest in the election?”
He also urged the authorities concerned to delay election. “We are hoping that the government will understand our problem,” he added.
Election officer of Patgram upazila Aftab Hossain told the Dhaka Tribuen that they had already informed the matter to higher authorities. They would take decision whether the election would be delayed or not.
Election officer of Hatibandha upazila Monwar Hossain said they had informed Election Commission about the issue.
Lalmonirhat District Election Officer Fazlul Haque yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune that district election would take a decision about delaying polls and making former exclaves residents voter today.
Election of 20 union parishads at Patgram and Hatibandha upazila would held on March 31 and March 2 is the last date for submitting nomination papers.
“It is not possible to make residents of exclaves before March 2, so there is a change to delay the election,” he said.