Two 12-year-old girls, studying in classes five and six, have been included as voters on the updated list in Mohammadpur upazila of Magura district.
The controversial voters are -- Mousumi Khatun, a class six student of Choubaria High School, and Latifa Khatun, a class five student of a primary school run by Brac at Kalomdhari village in Mohammadpur upazila.
According to school register, Mousumi Khatun, daughter of Zafar Munshi of Folshia village under Digha union of the upazila, was born on October 23, 1997. But she has been listed as a voter during the voter list updating in the upazila from July 15 to August 13. Her voter registration form No is 12381996, official record says.
The headmaster of Choubaria Government Primary School, Abdus Sattar was the enumerator in the area under the supervision of Abul Khayer, the credit supervisor of Jubo Unnayan Directorate, official sources said.
When contacted, Abdus Sattar claimed that he had to list Mousumi due to pressure from an influential quarter. He however, declined to disclose their identity.
Another controversial voter, Latifa Khatun is the daughter of Abdur Razzak of Kalomdhari village under Rajapur union and a class five student of a Brac-run primary school at the village. According to school register, her date of birth is June 1, 1997.
During her inclusion on the voter list through the registration form No 12381383, fake name Merina Khatun was used although her father's name mentioned in the voter list was the same as that in the school register, official records say.
Golam Kuddus, an assistant teacher of Kalomdhari Government Primary School, worked as enumerator in the area under the supervision of Rajganj Government Primary School Headmaster Krishnapada Majumdar.
When contacted, Krishnapada Majumdar said they listed Merina as a voter as they were not aware of the girl's studentship and her guardian gave wrong information about her age.
Mohammadpur Upazila Election Officer Md Kabiruddin on Tuesday served a notice to the enumerators and supervisors concerned, asking them to explain the incidents of listing the two underage children in the voter list.
“We are waiting for their written answer. Proper action will be taken against the responsible persons,” he said.