Authorities have closed a polling centre in Sirajganj's Sadar Upazila over irregularities on the night before the first phase of voting in the upazila elections.
A presiding officer and two assistant presiding officers were detained for their involvement in the irregularities.
The Mohammedpur Government Primary High School at ward no. 1 in the city was closed at 2.30 am on Sunday, said Md Abul Hossain, the district’s returning officer.
The centre was scheduled to be open from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm on Sunday like the other centres in the upazila.
“There was pressure for illegal activity on the night before the election,” Presiding Officer Md Anowar Hossain said on Sunday morning. “A written complaint was sent to the returning officer stating our inability to conduct a fair election under the circumstances.”
Returning Officer Abdul Hossain and Executive Magistrate Mohammed Rahmat Ullah went to the centre on Saturday night and closed it.
Presiding officer Md Anowar Hossain, Assistant Presiding Officers Abdul Alim and Belal Hossain were arrested the next morning, said UNO Sarker Md Raihan, bdnews24.com reports.
“We are conducting an investigation into the irregularity and legal measures will be taken against those detained,” he said.
At a press briefing at the Nirbachon Bhaban yesterday, Election Commission Additional Secretary Moklesur Rahman warned of acting against any kind of negligence by any law or election officer.
Over 14.2 million people are expected to exercise their rights through 5,847 centres in the first phase of elections to 78 Upazila Parishads in 12 districts today.
