Jamaat alleges voting irregularities in Bogura-6 by-polls, Sherpur-3 election
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has alleged “serious irregularities” during voting in Bogura by-polls and Sherpur-3 election and called on the chief election commissioner (CEC) to take immediate action.
At a press conference at the party’s central office in Dhaka’s Moghbazar this afternoon, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar said reports of irregularities had been received from multiple polling centres since morning.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. He claimed that, in violation of the electoral code of conduct, presiding officers had obtained agents’ signatures on result sheets before voting began.
“Agents are supposed to sign the result sheets after voting and counting are completed. But signatures were taken in the morning, which is a serious irregularity,” Porwar claimed.
He also alleged that fake votes were being cast at several centres and that party agents had been forced out. In some places, he said, supporters of rival candidates entered polling stations, attacked personnel, and obstructed voters -- particularly women -- from casting their ballots.
Porwar called for voting to be suspended in centres where widespread irregularities occurred and for fresh polls to be arranged. He also demanded legal action against the presiding and returning officers responsible.
“If voting continues in this manner, it will not reflect the true will of the voters, and the public will not accept such results,” he said. “We believe in democratic politics. We will observe the situation and decide our next course of action accordingly.”
Voting for 299 seats took place in the 13th parliamentary elections on February 12. BNP Chairpman Tarique Rahman, who won two constituencies, later vacated the Bogura-6 seat, prompting a by-election there.
Meanwhile, polling in Sherpur-3 had been delayed following the death of a contesting candidate. The by-election is now being held in that constituency.
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