Fear grows over Rohingya involvement in Sunday’s election

Hossen Sohel of DOT
Though the Election Commission has asked Rohingyas not to venture out of their camps here for a certain period, locals fear that the refugees may spell trouble during the national election on Sunday, reports the UNB.
Md Ayub Majhi (leader) of Ukhiya’s Kutupalang Camp 5, said Rohingyas are coming out of their camps and going to various nearby places. ‘I’m not sure where they’re going or whether they’re joining any political campaign,’ he said.
On December 21, the Election Commission issued a circular restricting the movement of Rohingya people staying in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar during the election.
A circular, signed by EC deputy secretary Atiar Rahman, states that Rohingya people may be used in the 11th parliamentary polls for creating anarchy in favour of different candidates.
To restrict their movements, the commission asked the authorities concerned to work so that they cannot come out from the camps from 7:00 pm on December 29 to 8:00 am on December 31.
There was no such embargo on Rohingyas’ movement during the 2014 and 2008 elections, said Palangkhali Union Parishad Chairman Gafur Uddin Chowdhury.
‘During those times, the Rohingyas had influenced the polls in many ways,’ he said adding, ‘This year, after the polls schedule announcement, many Rohingyas went out of the camps in groups and some of them even got involved in campaigns.’
Blame Game
The ruling Awami League and BNP have been accusing each other of using the refugees for political gains ahead of the December 30 election.
The local unit of Awami League claims that BNP and its allies are using Rohingyas in their campaigns. ‘Rohingyas have been seen in the processions of BNP candidates,’ said Jahangir Kabir Chowdhury, the party’s Ukhiya Upazila unit general secretary.