Lifelong AL activist ‘denied’ his vote
So-called helper casts his vote for him
"Why did you cast my vote? It's my right. Who are you?"
This was what Awami League activist Jasim Uddin asked a Chhatra League man who allegedly cast Jasim's vote using an electronic voting machine.
People present in the polling booth became awkward after the two men working for the same camp started yelling at each other during yesterday's Chattogram City Corporation election which was marred by allegations of voter fraud.
"I have spent my life working for the Awami League. You should have asked me before pressing that button. Do you know me? I am the joint convener of the polling centre committee of Awami League nominee Rezaul," Jasim was seen saying in a video footage.
The incident happened yesterday at booth-2 at Bakalia Teachers' Training College around 10:00am.
Jasim Uddin is the joint convenor of the polling centre operation committee of the Awami League.
"Why are you doing that? I was going to vote for Boat [AL symbol] but you pushed it without my permission," he was heard saying.
A group of BCL and Jubo League men soon entered the booth and tried to calm him down.
"I was operating the EVM machine but they pressed it without my consent," he told The Daily Star while a local Jubo League man tried to whisk him away.
Awami League men wearing their badges were seen roaming around at the polling station. While the incident took place, police were seen assuming the roles of onlookers.
At around 11:00am, Fahima Sultana Jinu, a local woman, alleged that someone else cast her vote in favor of the Awami League nominees when she was right there.