SYLHET. Dec 1 1: Large scale Irregularities have been reported in the preparation of Voter ID cards in all the four districts of Sylhet Division.

The task for ID cards preparation began since the mid of November amid gross Irregularities in the region. Makeshift camps were opened for taking photos of the voters as per list given by the Election Department officials. But. these are being winded up In many areas without completing the tasks. Allegations from many areas says even 15 per cent photographs could not be taken yet; In some areas the camps are being withdrawn even before the people could have the information, due to the absence of adequate publicity. Printing of the voters list is also being delayed In many places. The overall situation is causing apathy on the part of voters in general.

The total number of voters in 35 thanas of four districts stands at 35 lakh 88 thousand and 859. Of the total, only five lakh ID cards have yet been prepared. Only 40

thousand cards had so far been handed over to the voters in the region, confirmed an official source. The official, however. admitted that the overall situation was not at all satisfactory due to various reasons especially due to insufficient time and the complex and lengthy system of preparation of the cards He was not hopeful of providing all the voters with the ID cards within the scheduled time.

However, there was good performance in the district of Moulvlbazar where preparation of about three and a half lakh voter ID cards had already been completed

Twenty thousand laminated ID cards had already 'been handed over to the voters in two unions of Baralekha thana. Kanaighat thana of Sylhet district showed the best performance where photos of ;one lakh 10 thousand voters had already been taken. Lamination of these cards had now l>egan there, said the official.

The situation in Sunam-ganj district is far from satis-

factory Only 12 thousand ID cards have so far been handed over to the voters in the district of HabiganJ. the source added

Siscon, a private firm In Dhaka had been entrusted with the task of ID card printing, photo taking and lamination of the voter cards in 15 constituencies out of 19 In the Sylhet Division A director of the form alleged that, progress of works is 'much slow' due to Innumerable faulty in the voters list prepared by the Election Department. Same is the opinion of another computer firm which got the contract for three other constituencies of Sylhet and Moulvlbazar districts.

The firm which had been asked for preparation of the ID cards in 13 wards of Sylhet pourashava alleged that, they were yet to receive the complete voters list, especially that of the female voters. Besides, the voters list and data sheets supplied to these firms were full of errors. In many cases it was found that same registration number had been used

for more than one voter while the data sheets contained many blank room.

The Chairman of Sylhet Pourashava Bqdar Uddin Kamran alleged that there had been innumerable allegations regarding the ID cards preparation. The firm engaged with the task did not even inform the Ward Commissioners In many cases causing a haphazard situation while taking the photos of voters, he alleged. The firm had withdrawn their makeshift camps even without taking photos of 50 per cent voters, in many areas. In some photo camps, it was also observed that, voters were present in good numbers. but the workers failed to cope with the rush. Many voters were found disappointed due to the irregularities in these camps.

Moreover, an official source said, the works of the photo camps were being hampered seriously in many areas as the primary and high schools were engaged in annual examinations.