Ballot stuffing at 5-6 centres, admits election official

The election officials found what they called irregularities in 5-6 polling stations in Gazipur City Corporation elections on Tuesday.

Returning officer Rakibuddin Mandal also admitted that the incidents include ballot stuffing and casting fake votes in those centres.

Polling agents of the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) were ejected from these 5-6 centres, the official further admitted.

However, the returning officer did not disclose the name of polling centres where the incidents took place.

Asked about such irregularities, Rakibuddin claimed at noon that the election commission and the law enforcement brought the situation under control.

He said they ensured entry of the BNP agents at centres where the opposition men could not enter or were driven out.

Returning officer also indicated that voting might be postponed in one centre over irregularities.

He said they will take a decision on the centre after talking with the parties concerned.

An EC source said, the voting might be postponed in centre number 72 and 73 over irregularities.

The commission has asked the returning office to take action in these centres after investigation.