Seal Rohingya camps, borders before Feb polls: EC Sanaullah

Ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, the Election Commission (EC) has announced that Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar will be sealed to prevent unauthorized movement, ensuring security during the election period.

Election Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd.) Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah made the remarks on Tuesday while addressing journalists at a meeting with law enforcement officials at the Chattogram Circuit House. He stressed the importance of restricting access to the Rohingya camps and nearby borders to prevent any potential misuse or security threats.

Sanaullah said, "Rohingya camps and borders must be strictly controlled. Some Rohingya have already integrated into local communities, and camp-based activities are creating security challenges. If weapons are smuggled from across the border into these camps, detecting them is extremely difficult. Therefore, strict movement control is necessary."

Sanaullah added that during the election, Rohingya residents must not participate in political rallies or gatherings, nor should they be exploited for criminal activities. To ensure this, the camps in Ukhiya and Teknaf will remain sealed in the days immediately before and after the election.

The Election Commissioner also reiterated that no group or political party will be allowed to evade accountability for misconduct. "Operations carried out by law enforcement will be publicly shared through the media. If any group or party attempts wrongdoing, they will be exposed, discouraging further violations. Political parties are expected to conduct elections lawfully and in a festive atmosphere," he said.

Highlighting the ongoing risk from leftover arms, Sanaullah urged authorities to recover the remaining weapons from the July coup period. "Though approximately 85% of the arms have been recovered, around 15% are still unaccounted for. Finding them will increase public confidence," he said. He also noted that 70-75% of lost ammunition has been recovered, with the rest still in the field.