Ballots stuffed into boxes by AL-backed councillor candidate’s supporters

Supporters of an Awami League backed councillor aspirant of Dhaka South city’s Ward 19 stuffed stamped ballots into boxes at the voting centre at Shiddheshwari Girls’ High School.

Following the incident, another councillor candidate filed a petition to suspend voting at the centre.
 
The polling station’s Presiding Officer Sheikh Md Ariful Islam admitted to the irregularity.
 
“I found some stamped ballots and informed my superior officials about the matter,” he said.
 
Earlier on Tuesday, BNP-backed Dhaka South mayor candidate Mirza Abbas’s wife said that their polling agents were ousted from that centre.
 
“Widespread rigging is going on. I have visited several centres and found the same thing. Ruling party activists are capturing polling stations and stamping ballots,” she told reporters.
 
Reserved woman councillor contestant Shampa Basu also said that the centre was marred by gross irregularities.
 
Councillor candidate Abu Zubayer Md Miratillah, who petitioned to cancel voting at the centre, told bdnews24.com that he could not cast his own vote.
 
His chief polling agent Md Wali Al Quadir said:”Supporters of ruling party-backed councillor aspirant held the presiding officer hostage around 7:30am and stamped ballot papers.”
 
A video footage provided by Miratillah shows that unused ballot papers have been stamped on the symbol of the Awami League-backed councillor candidate.