Members of ruling Awami League have allegedly occupied most of the polling centres in Jessore even before the voting began in the municipality.
The polling centres taken control by the ruling party men are: Jessore Zilla School centre under Sadar municipality, Govt MM College, Raipara Govt Primary School, Rail Station Govt Primary School, Barandipara Govt. Primary School, Institute Govt Primary School, Abdus Samad Memorial School, Sebashangha High School, Police Lines High School and Khayertola High School.
Ballot boxes filled up with ballot papers were reportedly found in several polling centres including Govt MM College, Sebashangha Girls High School, Alia Madrasa and Barandipara Madrasa polling centres around 8am Wednesday.
Voters alleged that the ballot boxes were all filled up on Tuesday night.
A voter named Abdur Rouf said: “I cast my vote at the polling centre in Sheba Shongho Kendro around 8:30am. I was the third voter but when I entered the centre I saw that the ballot boxes were allegedly filled.”
Presiding Officer of the centre Kamaruzzaman Jahangir was not seen in the centre till 10:15am. Later he was found around 10:20am.
When asked about the ballot boxes, he said: “The ballot were filled because the people have cast their votes.”
Besides, Presiding Office of another polling centre Mizanur Rahman said that the voting is taking place properly and fairly.
Jessore Kotwali OC Akkas Ali said: “We have not received any complaints regarding the polls.”
Agents of BNP-backed mayoral candidate were forcibly driven out of the centres and the agents were not allowed to enter in some centres.
Supporters of two councillor candidates in ward no 7 exchanged fire around 11:30am. Locals said they exploded about 80 hand bombs at that time.
BNP-backed Mayoral candidate Maruf Islam said: “Police were taken out from most of the polling centres last night. Later, the agents and supporters entered the centres and stamped ballot papers.
“Out of 2700 votes, Awami League men put seals on 2000 ballot papers at the polling centre in Sheba Shongho centre."
He also claimed that his agents were forcefully driven out from the polling centres in Ward 2, Ward 6 and Ward 4 where the ruling party men have taken position.
Awami League rebel candidate Kamruzzaman Chunno said: “Three polling centres in Ward no 5 have been completely occupied by the supporters of the ruling party.”
On the other hand, no journalists were not allowed to enter polling centre at Institute Government Primary School in Ward 6.
Daily Star's Jessore Correspondent Mokammel Hoque Shubho said he was pushed back while he tried to enter the centre around 8:30am.
Locals claimed that the supporters of Awami League-backed mayoral candidate Chakladar Rentu took position in the polling centres and put seals in the ballot papers before the voting started.
When contacted, Rentu refuted the allegation.
Meanwhile, out of the four centres in Ward 4, only Awami League agents are noticed there.