NCP’s Patwary flags ‘tally manipulation’ at six Dhaka-8 centres

Patwary is at the returning officer’s office

National Citizen Party (NCP) candidate for Dhaka-8 Nasiruddin Patwary has approached the Dhaka divisional returning officer, alleging that vote counts were manipulated at six polling centres in the constituency.

Around 7:45pm on Thursday, he went ot Returning Officer Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury to submit the complaint.

Shahin Ahmed, chief election agent of Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance’s candidate Patwary, said “irregularities” were taking 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.”

No comment was immediately available from the Dhaka divisional returning officer regarding the allegations.