The Election Commission (EC) took strict measures in connection with the incidents of ballot stuffing, intimidation of polling agents and violence during the voting on Sunday.
In line with the EC’s directives, law enforcers arrested at least 37 people for ballot stuffing and casting fake votes while the commission sued several others over irregularities during the voting.
The Chittagong-16 candidate of the Awami League (AL) and incumbent MP, Mostafizur Rahman Chowdhury, lost his candidacy just before the end of voting for violation of the election code of conduct.
His candidacy was scrapped on the ground of violation of the election code, said EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam at a press briefing at the Nirbachan Bhaban at 4pm on Sunday.
"He violated the election code of conduct and gave threats to the law enforcers today. He also breached the code earlier," he added.
On January 3, Mostafizur Rahman Chowdhury surrendered before a Chittagong court and secured bail in connection with allegations of violating the electoral code of conduct and assaulting a journalist.
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In Narsingdi-4, the EC ordered the arrest of Industries Minister and AL candidate Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun's son for ballot stuffing.
Hasiba Khan, the UNO and assistant returning officer, confirmed the arrest order for Manzurul Majid Mahmud Sadi.
Voting at Ibrahimpur Government Primary School in Sallabad Union Parishad under Belabo Upazila was cancelled at 8:40am, shortly after voting began, when the presiding officer discovered 12 ballot books with the seal of Awami League’s electoral symbol Boat.
Meanwhile, a five-member probe body has been formed over the allegation of assault on a presiding officer in Feni-3 constituency by independent candidate Hazi Rahim Ullah.
Presiding Officer Amir Hossain was assaulted at the Adv Belayet Hossain High School centre on Sunday afternoon. Returning Officer Shahina Akhter confirmed the information.
The probe body has been asked to submit its report within three working days.
Three people, including a councillor of the local municipality, were detained for vote rigging in three separate centres of Laksmipur-2 (Raipur and Sadar) constituency.
The detained are Ward-4 Councillor of the municipality Zakir Hossain Noman, Md Babla and Harunur Rashid. Details on the identities of the latter two are yet to be verified.
They were detained from the Keroa Shirajia Government Primary School and Chabilpur Government Primary School centres in Raipur. Joint District and Sessions Judge Farhana Bhuiyan and Raipur Assistant Returning Officer (UNO) Najma Binte Amin confirmed the matter.
Meanwhile, a case was filed against Keraniganj Upazila Chairman Shahin Ahmed for assaulting the presiding officer of Abdullahpur Government Primary School at Teghoria in Dhaka-3 constituency.
The presiding officer, Moshalem Reza, filed the case with Dhaka's South Keraniganj police station. The case alleged violation of election laws, Dhaka Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Anisur Rahman confirmed the filing of the case.
A mobile court sentenced two persons to six months in prison for casting fake votes in a centre under Sirajganj-3 constituency. The convicts are Iqbal Hossain Sarkar, 41, and Mobarak Hossain, 40. They were arrested and sentenced to imprisonment from Basudebkal Sriramerpara Islamia Dakhil Madrasa Center of Raiganj Upazila.
Israt Jahan, executive magistrate of the mobile court, said that the two accused tried to cast fake votes by standing in the voters' queue in disguise.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Meanwhile, the presiding officer at the Kallyanpur Girls' School And College polling centre under Dhaka-14 constituency allegedly registered signatures of polling agents before the voting ended.
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
