‘BNP agents not allowed in 2 Rajshahi polling stations’

Some 15 polling agents of sheaf, the election symbol of BNP’s mayoral candidate were stopped entering a polling station at ward No 21 in Rajshahi City Corporation, alleged the chief polling agent of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Tofazzal Hossain.

“All of our agents reached the centre by 7:30am. They were stopped entering the polling booth. I am waiting for about one hour, still not allowed to enter the centre even after requesting the presiding officer,” Tofazzal told Prothom Alo. The incident took place at the polling station of Shiroil Government High School in ward No 21 of Rajshahi city.

When asked, presiding officer Bajendra Nath Sarker told Prothom Alo that the agents of BNP candidate did reach the polling station on time.

“We allowed agents till 8:00am. We cannot allow them to enter the centre after 8:00am,” Sarker defended.

No polling agent except an agent of boat, election symbol of ruling Awami League, was allowed to enter the voting centre in Women Sports Complex of ward No 3 in Bil Simla area, Prothom Alo came to know.