EC to probe electoral fraud allegations raised in Bogura-6, Sherpur-3

The Election Commission (EC) on Thursday said it will probe allegations of intimidation, violence, fraud vote casting and other irregularities raised by Jamaat-e-Islami during voting in the Bogura-6 and Sherpur-3 constituencies.

EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed revealed the decision at a press briefing held at EC headquarters around 4:45pm, a few minutes after voting closed in the two parliamentary seats.

Akhtar said he had already asked for reports from the concerned officers to this end.

He also criticised Jamaat’s decision to boycott vote in Sherpur-3, after reporters sought his opinion over the opposition party’s move.

The Jamaat-e-Islami candidate announced his withdrawal around 3:45pm only 20 minutes before voting was set to end, citing vote rigging. Voting continued throughout the remainder of the day, but the Jamaat candidate did not object then, Akhtar Ahmed suggested.

However, voting closed at 4:30pm, and Jamaat candidate, Masudur Rahman, formally announced election boycott around 3pm.

Earlier at 1pm, Jamaat’s central office raised similar allegations at a press conference held in the capital.