Polling agents of BNP-backed DSCC mayoral candidate Mirza Abbas yesterday blamed ruling party supporters of indiscriminately obstructing them from entering polling centres, and in many cases assaulting them to rig the voting system.
Unsure what their next course of action would be, many of the agents – still wearing their identity cards around their necks – visited the residence of Mirza Abbas to raise their complaints.
Afroza Abbas, the candidate’s wife who has been active throughout the campaign for her husband, visited different centres herself yesterday to verify the claims, and found that they were all true.
The Dhaka Tribune accompanied her to a polling centre, set up in the Wasa office beside Fakirapool water tank, where it was found that no polling agent for the Mug election symbol was allowed inside the building.
Jharna Begum, an agent assigned to the Dilkhusa Primary School, said she was driven away from the centre by the area’s ruling party-backed councillor candidate.
Nadia Haque, another polling agent for Khilgaon Government Primary School centre, said she was driven away by AL supporters.
Several agents displayed injuries which they claimed were inflicted by agents of AL-backed mayoral candidate Sayeed Khokon.
Afroza said: “Polling agents are supposed to be at polling centres. But they are in my home. The media can plainly see this.
“The vote is being robbed in the presence of police and presiding officials.”
“I will not vote, as many of my supporters cannot vote today. As the ruling party’s candidates cast their [false] votes by themselves, this election is not fair anymore,” she said.
Soon afterwards, Afroza went to the BNP headquarters in Nayapaltan to announce the party decision to reject the city polls.
