Vote rigging allegation against Selim Osman
Independent candidate SM Akram brought allegation of vote rigging and ballot boxes stuffing against the supporters of Jatiya Party aspirant Selim Osman during the Narayanganj-5 by-polls today.
Akram also alleged that the people of Selim drove away his polling agents from some centres.
"My polling agents were driven away from several centres including Nolua Madrasa, Kumudini Welfare Trust and Shaheed Nagar Government Primary School centres," Akram told The Daily Star.
He claimed that Munna, a councillor of Narayangang City Corporation, confined one of his polling agents at Nolua Madrasa centre and rigged votes.
Munna is a close associate of Shamim Osman, a brother of Selim.
Akram threatened that he would not accept the result if such rigging continued.
Akram cast his vote at Gono Biddya Niketan at about 12:50pm.
Meanwhile, Bashir Uddin, assistant superintendent of police in Narayanganj, claimed that Shamim Osman issued a life threat to him as he prevented a voter while casting fake votes in favour of Selim at Keodala Government Primary School centre.
Talking to The Daily Star, Shamim denied the allegation saying that he was in his bedroom since morning.
"Anyone can make such phone calls using my name but it is absolutely baseless and false," he added.
Staring at 8:00am, the polling continued till 4:00pm without any break.
The parliamentary seat for the constituency fell vacant after the death of Jatiya Party lawmaker Nasim Osman, who was elected unopposed from the constituency during the January 5 general election.
Four candidates contested the polls, but Selim Osman and Akram are considered to be frontrunners.
No candidate from the main opposition BNP contested the by-election.
A total of 3,42,405 voters-1,74,311 males and 1,68,094 females—were eligible to exercise their franchise in 141 polling stations in the by-polls.
While visiting several poling centres in the Bandar upazila, our correspondent found that the presence of voters was very poor in the morning. But the rate of turnout increased as the day progressed, the turnout was increased.
A total of 4,350 law enforcers including Rapid Action Battalion, Border Gourd Bangladesh, police and ansar were deployed in the electoral area so that none can manipulate the vote or create any anarchy during the voting.
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