Over 100 people of 18 families in Kuakata reserve forest area have been listed as 'Myanmar citizens' although they are living in the area for decades and they have national identity (NID) cards as Bangladeshi citizens.

On June 4, men of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) distributed a slip to each family in this regard as BBS in their Rohingya census listed these people as 'Myanmar citizens'.

Protesting the matter, the families arranged a press conference at Kuakata Press Club recently. They demanded that the authorities revoke the decision immediately.

"The then local administration brought some families of our grandfathers in Pakistan period to take care of local forest from Khoshrul village in Cox's Bazar and since then we are living in the forest area by building houses as a piece of land also given to each family," said Abul Kashm, one of victims.

One of the victims of the 'folly' shows his NID card. Photo: Star

"As Bangladeshi citizens, we have national ID cards. We are voters in the area and cast votes in local government and parliament elections. But BBS in their recent survey listed us as Rohingya [Myanmar people] that is very humiliating to us," he said.

"Now we fear that our Bangladeshi nationality might be cancelled although we are living permanently here and enjoying all government facilities," said Mollah, another resident in the area.



Md Shah Alam, Kalapara upazila statistics officer, said, "We listed them as Myanmar people as they are not originally from the area."Kuakata municipality Mayor Abdul Bareq Mollah said, "Listing those people as Myanmar people is not acceptable. They are living here for 60-70 years. They gave votes in the recent municipality polls and enjoying all facilities as citizens of Bangladesh, like other local residents."

Contacted, Md Jahangir Hossain, Patuakhali district statistics officer, said, "We are trying to categorise them through the census. There is no reason for fear of cancellation of their Bangladeshi nationality as they will be treated as general citizens."