A Jamaat ward leader was fined Tk 5,000 by a mobile court for allegedly distributing leaflets in violation of the electoral code of conduct during the Thakurgaon-1 by-election on Thursday. He was also ordered to serve 1 month of simple imprisonment if he failed to pay the fine.
The drive was conducted around noon at the JP Junior Secondary High School polling center in the Jagannathpur area of Thakurgaon Sadar upazila by Sadia Afsana Rima, judge of the executive and judicial inquiry committee and joint district and sessions judge.
Abdul Karim, who was fined, is the president of Ward 1 of Jamaat in Jagannathpur Union under Thakurgaon Sadar upazila.
According to mobile court sources, campaigning had been prohibited from 48 hours before the election, but leaflets were being distributed in favor of the Jamaat candidate at the polling center. There were also allegations that leaflets were being distributed from the office of the candidate's polling booth agent.
A large quantity of leaflets was seized during the drive. Abdul Karim was subsequently fined Tk 5,000 for violating the electoral code of conduct, with 1 month of simple imprisonment ordered in default of payment.
According to the district returning officer's office, the Thakurgaon-1 constituency comprises Thakurgaon Sadar, Ruhia and Bhulli areas, with 22 unions and 1 municipality.
The constituency has 516,138 voters. Voting began at 8am on Thursday at 185 polling centers and continued without interruption until 4pm.
