It was 3:45pm yesterday.
In Ideal School and College polling centre at Dhanmondi, a police officer and three local Awami League leaders were busy stamping ballot papers at a booth on the third floor of the building, keeping the door wide open.
“It is not the right time to talk to you,” said Masud Rana, according to his nameplate, when asked by the Dhaka Tribune.
Rana then closed the door and resumed his freestyle stamping. Awami League-backed mayoral aspirant Sayeed Khokon’s polling agent Shahidul Islam assisted him.
Presiding Officer Alauddin Ahmed was on the fourth floor at that time.
“Around 2pm, some polling agents and police officials snatched some ballot papers from me and also forced me to sign on both parts of those ballot papers.
“Later, I informed the local police station and RAB high officials about the situation. But they did not respond to my call,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.
According to sources, Masud Rana is a sub-inspector attached with the police headquarters. He was deployed at the centre along with other law enforcers to prevent vote rigging.
“Of the total 2,697 voters under the centre, only 623 people cast their votes until 2pm. But the number rose to 2,000 in the next two hours,” an electoral official said requesting not to be named. A voter named Masum Al Jaki went to the centre at 3:30pm to exercise his franchise.
“In a booth, I found two people folding the already-stamped ballot papers and putting them into a ballot box. I could not cast my vote as the election official told me that there was no blank ballot paper,” Masum said.