A count has sent a man to jail after he was arrested over casting a vote using the fingerprints of another voter in the Gaibandha-5 by-polls.
Judge Md Faruk Hossain of the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court passed the verdict on Thursday afternoon.
The vote rigging took place at a polling centre in Saghata upazila on Wednesday.
The convict, Sujan, was seen in a secret room, casting a vote in place of the voter after his fingerprint was verified, Rajab Ali, inspector (Investigation) of Saghata police station told Bangla Tribune.
Sujan also got into an argument with Presiding Officer Majedul Islam, when he tried to stop him, the officer added.
Later that night, Majedul Islam filed a case against Sujan Mia at the Saghata police station for unauthorized entry into the polling centre and casting a false vote.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on Thursday said that the suspension of the election at the Gaibandha-5 constituency was not a “reckless” decision by the Election Commission.
He said that it was rather a “thoughtful” decision, which was taken through consultation with all the commissioners, reports UNB.
The Election Commission on Wednesday suspended the by-polls at Gaibandha-5 parliamentary seat amid widespread allegations of vote rigging and voter intimidation.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal said they had to take the decision because of malpractices on election day.
Gaibandha-5 constituency consists of 10 unions of Saghata upazila and seven unions of Fulchhari upazila.
After former MP and Deputy Speaker of the 11th National Parliament Fazle Rabbi Mia died on July 23 the Gaibandha-5 seat fell vacant.