Mirza Abbas’s wife meets returning officer over Patwary’s vote-rigging allegations

Afroza Abbas goes to the office of Dhaka Divisional Returning Officer to respond against Patwary’s allegation

Afroza Abbas, the wife of the BNP's Dhaka-8 candidate Mirza Abbas, went to the office of the returning officer to respond to allegations of result manipulation at six centres in the constituency.

Earlier, around 8:30pm on Thursday, Abbas's rival for the seat, NCP leader Nasiruddin Patwary, entered the chamber of Dhaka Divisional Commissioner and Returning Officer Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury.

After waiting for nearly two hours, he left the office around 10:30pm without speaking to journalists.

Shahin Ahmed, chief election agent of Patwary, had earlier shared the complaint details with bdnews24.com.

He alleged that irregularities took place at Siddheswari Boys’ High School, Motijheel Ideal School and College, Eskaton Boys’ High School, Paltan Family Planning Centre, Mahbub Ali Institute and Mirza Abbas College centres.

“At Mirza Abbas College, despite receiving more than 15 votes, agents have been detained for recounting,” he said.

Providing details, Shahin said: “At these centres, votes are being counted three times. Agents are being confined and there is an attempt to add rejected ballots to change the lead.”

“We have received information about these centres, and heard that agents are being held at several other centres as well. Despite leading at these centres, results are not being announced. He has come to file complaints over these issues.”

Shortly after Nasir Uddin Patwary left, Afroza Abbas arrived at the Dhaka returning officer’s office around 10:45pm.

An official at the Dhaka returning office told bdnews24.com, “Sir (Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury) wanted to know about Patwary’s allegations. She has come here to respond to those complaints.”

Dhaka Divisional Commissioner and Returning Officer Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury said regarding Patwary’s allegations, “I cannot say anything officially at the moment.”

However, after news of Afroza Abbas’s arrival at the returning office spread, a few hundreds of BNP leaders and activists were seen holding a procession outside.