The anticipated addition of 1.4 crore to the old list is considered quite on the higher side because 8.9 crore voters would mean 63.57 percent of the current population of 14 crore. By all calculations, the voter-population ratio thus appears to be record high and this is borne out by the historical trends. Statistics show that 55 percent of the Bangladeshis are aged over 15 years and this points to the fact that the figure of 7.4 crore voters was too high in the last voter list itself, let alone the current draft being talked about.

According to standard practices, the draft list that is expected to be made public soon will be circulated among the electorate for further review and correction. We hope eventually the speculations about 'ghost' voters and exclusion of genuine ones will be set at rest to pave the way for the preparation of an authentic voter list.

However, we have some suggestions to offer in this regard. Representatives from all political parties and civil societies along with EC officials should constitute committees to ascertain at local levels whether genuine voters have been left out or there has been any wrongful insertion. The people should be given all opportunity to furnish their particulars for inclusion if their names have been left out. We have to keep in mind that there have been allegations about interference by the supporters of the ruling coalition at the local levels during preparation of this year's draft voter list.

It goes without saying that voter list is the primary instrumentality whereby free and fair elections are ensured by the state. Therefore, it has to be as genuine as humanly possible ruling out any attempt whatsoever to tamper with it for partisan gains.