Scrap by-polls results, hold fresh election

Claiming irregularities in the Dhaka-17 by-polls, Ashraful Alom, widely known as Hero Alom, yesterday appealed to the Election Commission, demanding cancellation of the election results and re-polling.

After submitting the application, Hero Alom told reporters, "I have video footage. Children aged 12-13 cast votes. A girl cast 10-15 votes ... they were forced to go to polling stations. I have submitted an appeal to the chief election commissioner along with video footage. We want cancellation of the election result and a fresh election."

Asked about the EC's response to his complaint, Hero Alom said, "I called the returning officer [of the Dhaka-17 by-polls] who asked me to write to the chief election commissioner. Therefore, I appealed here."

He also called upon the cabinet and speaker of parliament to ensure that Arafat A Rahman, the ruling Awami League candidate who won the by-polls, cannot take an oath as lawmaker.

He mentioned that he took part in 2018 national polls and two by-elections this year held under this government. He was beaten up in all three occasions, he alleged.

Hero Alom, who contested as an independent candidate in the election held on July 17, said he was disheartened by the remarks of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Khandker Golam Faruq that police could not provide him security as he went to the same polling centre for the second time without informing the police.

"I want to tell him one thing, you look at the video footage whether I went to the same centre twice or not."

He alleged that police didn't come to provide him security. "Why should I inform you about my visit to the centre? You will provide me security. When the attackers punched me, it was the responsibility of police to save and take me home safely."

"When I was being beaten up, I went to a BGB vehicle to save my life, but not a single person got out of the car," he alleged.

Hero Alom came under attack near theBanani Bidyaniketan polling centre.

AL candidate Arafat bagged 28,816 votes and won the by-polls. Hero Alom got the next highest 5,609 votes.