The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday said it has initiated steps to investigate allegations of irregularities, including vote rigging, intimidation and electoral misconduct, raised during the by-elections in Bogura-6 and Sherpur-3 constituencies.
EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed disclosed the development while speaking to reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon shortly after voting concluded in the two seats.
“We have started looking into the complaint. I have already directed the adhering returning officers to submit detailed reports after examining the matter,” he said.
The move follows allegations by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, which earlier in the day claimed widespread irregularities, including ballot stuffing and forced removal of polling agents from centres.
Responding to Jamaat’s decision to boycott the Sherpur-3 election, Akhtar Ahmed termed it a political decision of the party.
“They have boycotted the election"why they did so is their matter. Voting continued throughout the day, and such complaints came shortly before the end of polling,” he said, referring to reports that the boycott was announced minutes before voting closed.
Polling in both constituencies was held on Thursday from morning until 4:30 PM. Jamaat candidate Masudur Rahman formally announced his withdrawal from Sherpur-3 race in the afternoon, alleging that a fair election was not possible.
Earlier, Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar, at a press conference in the capital, alleged serious violations of electoral rules, including taking signatures from polling agents on result sheets before the completion of voting.
Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin reiterated the commission’s commitment to ensuring credible elections, saying that modern tools, including drone monitoring and scientific systems, were deployed to maintain transparency and order.
The by-elections were held following the vacancy of the Bogura-6 seat after BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman retained Dhaka-17, while the Sherpur-3 election was rescheduled after the death of Jamaat candidate Nuruzzaman Badal.
EC said it expects the probe findings soon, while results of the two constituencies are being processed.
AM
