Dhaka, Mar 19 (V7N) – The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has agreed to provide the Rohingya refugee database to the Election Commission of Bangladesh. The agreement was reached between the government and the UNHCR, as confirmed by Humayun Kabir, Director General of the National Identity Registration Division, following discussions with the organization on Wednesday (March 19).

Kabir stated that, according to the UNHCR, there are currently over 1 million Rohingya refugees registered in the country. As the government prepares to update the voter list ahead of the upcoming national elections, the sharing of the Rohingya database will play a crucial role in identifying any Rohingyas who may be improperly included in the voter list.

The Director General emphasized that the timely receipt of this data would significantly streamline the process of identifying Rohingya refugees and preventing their inclusion in the voter rolls. He also clarified that anyone identified as a Rohingya from the database will be excluded from the voter list.

To facilitate the use of this data, a technical team has been formed, working in close coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Election Commission, and UNHCR. This collaboration is expected to improve the integrity of the voter registration process and help ensure that only eligible citizens are included in the upcoming elections.

This development marks a significant step in ensuring the accuracy and legitimacy of Bangladesh's voter registration system as the nation prepares for the next electoral cycle.

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