The Election Commission has taken special measures for 30 upazilas to prevent Rohingyas from being voters during the voter list updating programme beginning on July 25 next across the country.

‘There’re some special areas from where Rohingyas get enrolled as voters. The special areas were earlier only 20 upazilas. But, this year we’ve defined 10 more upazilas as special areas,’ EC secretary Muhammad Abdullah said on Monday, reports the UNB.

He came up with the disclosure while talking to reporters after a coordination meeting of the EC’s central committee formed for updating the voter list at Nirbachon Bhaban in the city.

The EC Secretary said there are special committees in the 30 upazilas to keep Rohingyas and other foreigners away from the electoral roll.

He said if anyone wants to get registered as voter, s/he needs to submit the photocopy of his or her paternal uncles and aunts alongside that of parents.

Abdullah said the EC estimates some 35 lakh fresh voters will come out during the countrywide voter list updating programme this year.

He said the enumerators will collect the data of possible voters visiting houses for 72 days in three phases in the country.

The youths who were born on or before January 1, 2000 will be qualified to become voters this time.

The draft updated voter list will be published on January 2 next to receive and dispose of complaints about it, if any. The EC will publish the final updated voter list on January 31 next.