Law enforcers arrested at least 37 people for ballot stuffing and casting fake votes while Election Commission (EC) officials sued several others over irregularities during Sunday’s voting.
In Mymensingh-10 constituency, police arrested three people, including a presiding officer, for irregularities at a polling station under Gafargaon Upazila.
The arrestees are Presiding Officer Ilias Uddin, Assistant Presiding Officer Md Nurul Haque and an agent of Boat candidate, Abul Kalam Azad. They were caught while stuffing ballots at the Madinatul-ul-Alhaz Akbar Hossain Qawmi Madrasa polling centre around 10:30am.
Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Assistant Returning Officer Shafiqul Islam confirmed the arrests.
In Narsingdi-4, the EC ordered the arrest of Industries Minister and Awami League candidate Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun's son for ballot stuffing.
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Hasiba Khan, the UNO and assistant returning officer, confirmed the arrest order for Manzurul Majid Mahmud Sadi.
In Barisal-5 constituency, law enforcers arrested four people for attempting to cast fake votes at Shaheed Arjumoni centre under Barisal City Corporation around 1:30pm.
Sajal Kumar Biswas, the presiding officer of the polling station, confirmed the matter.
In Meherpur-1, a mobile court sentenced three supporters of the Boat candidate to seven days in jail for obstructing voters from entering a polling centre at Kolaidanga village under Sadar Upazila.
Executive Magistrate Md Abir Hossain conducted the mobile court.
Earlier, a scuffle took place between the supporters of the Truck and Boat symbols at the polling centre.
In Barguna-1 constituency, a mobile court sentenced two polling agents to one year in jail each for using mobile phones.
The incident took place at Hazarbigha Government Primary School centre under the Burirchar Union Parishad.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Harun-or-Rashid handed down the sentence. UNO Shamim Mia confirmed the matter.
Earlier, a mobile court sentenced a man to six months in jail for casting fake votes in Barguna-1 seat.
In Sirajganj-3 constituency, a mobile court sentenced two persons to six months in jail for casting fake votes.
The incident took place at Sriramer Para Islamia Dakhil Madrasa centre at Raiganj Upazila, Executive Magistrate Israt Jahan said.
In Keraniganj-3, Upazila Chairman Shahin Ahammad was sued for assaulting the presiding officer of Abdullahpur Government Primary School under Tegria Union Parishad.
Moslem Reza was beaten by the upazila chairman, Dhaka Deputy Commissioner Anisur Rahman confirmed.
In Narayanganj-1 constituency, two supporters of the Kettle symbol were jailed for two years each for buying votes.
The duo was also fined Tk10,000 each.
In Jhenaidah-1 constituency, a man named Sabbir Ahmed was arrested while casting fake votes at the Dohara Model Government Primary School centre under Shailkupa Upazila.
In Dinajpur-4, police arrested two youths for the same crime at the Chak Sakoya Government Primary School centre under Khanshama Upazila.
In Rajbari-2, law enforcers arrested a man named Rana Biswas for attempting to cast a fake vote at Puijor Siddikia Fazil Madrasa centre under Pangsha Upazila. Officials said he was using a fake identity.
In Jamalpur-2 constituency, Jatiya Party (JaPa) candidate Mostafa Al Mahmud alleged that his agents were sent out of thirty polling centres and agents of the Boat candidate stuffed ballot boxes.
The JaPa candidate said this at a press briefing at the upazila party office on Sunday afternoon.
He said that there were 92 polling centres and his agents were forced out of at least 30.
Assistant Returning Officer Md Sirajul Islam said he had received an oral complaint and the commission is taking prompt action over the incident.
Meanwhile, the presiding officer at the Kallyanpur Girls' School and College polling centre under Dhaka-14 constituency allegedly took signatures of polling agents before the voting ended.
According to the rules, signatures are taken after the voting is over.
A supporter of independent candidate Sabina Akhter Tuhin made the allegations and said this goes against the rules as signatures can only be taken after the voting is over. She suspected that votes might have also been stuffed by taking signatures in advance on the empty forms.
“I do not know why and for whom the presiding officer took signatures of the polling agents,” she added.
Jubo League General Secretary Md Mainul Hossain Nikhil is the ruling party candidate in the constituency.
In Comilla-4 constituency, an assistant presiding officer has been withdrawn for allegedly casting votes for the Boat symbol.
Abdur Rab, presiding officer at Padma Government Primary School center in Gunaighar union of Debidwar Upazila, confirmed the matter.
According to locals, voters went to booth number 6 in the morning and saw votes for the Boat symbol already stuffed in the boxes. They later reported the matter to the presiding officer.
On receiving the news, the magistrates and the assistant returning officer went to the spot, and the ballot box was removed.
"The ballot book and the ballot box have been removed," said Abdur Rab.
At the same time, the assistant presiding officer of the center was withdrawn.
In Madaripur-3 constituency, voting was temporarily suspended at Dakshin Ramzanpur Government Primary School centre under Kalkini Upazila due to allegations of ballot stuffing.
Alamgir Mridha, the presiding officer of the center, confirmed the matter.
Law enforcers and the executive magistrate rushed to the spot after receiving the news.
Kamrul Hasan, executive magistrate in charge at the centre, said: "Sensing irregularities, we rushed to the spot. The situation is now calm. Polling at the center has been stopped for the time being.”
Local sources said that Boat candidate Abdus Sobhan Golap came to the center around 11:30am and at that time, 20-25 men forcefully sent independent candidate Tahmina Begum's polling agents out of the booth.
A mobile court in Brahmanbaria has sentenced nine people to different jail terms for casting fake votes in two parliamentary constituencies.
They were sentenced to prison terms ranging from seven days to two years. A juvenile was also arrested.
Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Habibur Rahman confirmed the matter.
He said nine people were jailed for different periods in two constituencies of Brahmanbaria on charges of casting fake votes till 1pm. One person has been arrested as a minor.
The jail sentences were given after drives were conducted in different centres of Brahmanbaria-2 and 3 constituencies.
Meanwhile, four people were sentenced to six months imprisonment each for casting fake votes at Bara Panchari Government Primary School in Panchari upazila.
Assistant Commissioner and Executive Magistrate Ahmed Hasan handed down the sentence through a mobile court in the morning.
Our correspondents Mamun Abdullah from Dhaka and Bishwajit Deb from Jamalpur contributed to the report
