Ruling party activists at different polling centres under Dhaka-5 constituency were seen rigging ballots with the help of a section of polling officers in the presence of law enforcement agencies on Sunday. The polling centres include AK High School and College (new building) at Dania, Matuail Paschimpara Government Primary School, Matuail Ideal High School, Mannan High School and College, Madrasha-e-Mohammadia Arabia at Jatrabari and Jatrabari Government Primary Boys’ and Girls’ School. When this correspondent entered booth number 8 at the second floor of Matuail Paschimpara Government Primary School at 3pm, four to five persons, including polling officers, were seen rigging ballots. Their embarrassment at being caught was palpable.
Only 35 voters had turned up at the booth till 1pm, but the number increased to 200 by 3pm.
A similar scene was observed at booth number 4 of Matuail Ideal High School by another Independent correspondent at 3:05 pm. Two ruling party activists sitting on a bench were seen fixing the ballots. Sensing the presence of the journalist, a ruling party activist tried to throw him out of the room. No one could confirm the precise number of votes cast at the booth. The presiding officer was not available to make any comment on the situation. Unusual movement of ruling party activists was also observed in and around the polling centre.
Polling officers at Madrasha-e-Mohammadia Arabia in Jatrabari kept their mum about the casting of votes in their respective booths. “Only the presiding officer knows about the number of ballots cast,” they claimed. Presiding officer Nasir Ahmed said that out of 3,288 votes, 1,770 had been cast till 3:40pm. amounting to 53.83 per cent voter turnout. Ruling party activists were visibly moving about the centre, though no voter was present.
While visiting the Jatrabari Government Primary Boys’ and Girls’ School centre around 3:50 pm, this correspondent found active vigilance by ruling party activists at different polling booths. Sensing the presence of this correspondent, a police officer came forward and tried to take him to the presiding officer to conceal the conspicuous scenario. Presiding officer Nafiz Ahmed said the voter turnout was about 20 to 25 per cent.
In some booths at AK High School and College (new building) polling centre, some unusual signs were evident. Visiting the centre at 2:10 pm, this correspondent found that the polling officers at booth no 3 at the ground level of the building were trying to rig ballots. The polling officers were caught unawares as some ballot papers were in the process of being thrust into the ballot box. There was a huge difference in the number of votes cast in different booths of the same centre.
-With The Independent input
