Bogura-6 by-polls: JL men in control of 100 centres, alleges candidate

An independent candidate in the Bogura-6 by-polls today alleged that Jubo League men had taken control of more than 100 polling centres .
The Jubo League activists were forcing voters to vote for ruling Awami League candidate Ragebul Ahsan Ripu, independent candidate Abdul Mannan said.
Contacted, Returning Officer Saiful Islam said, “We received the complaint. I sent a magistrate there to take action in this regard.”
Meanwhile, our Bogura correspondent found an expelled Jubo League leader, Abdul Motin Sarkar, sitting inside the Jubilee Institution polling station in Haddipotti area in the constituency.
Voters alleged that Sarkar was asking them to vote for the ruling-party candidate.
“It is not just Jubilee, Jubo League men have taken control of over 100 other centres,” said Abdul Mannan. There are a total of 143 polling centres in the constituency.
The correspondent visited the centre between 10:00am and 10:35am and saw that Sarkar was sitting on a chair and at least 10 of his people were standing next to him. The voters were being taken to Sarkar, who was asking them to vote for boat.
Several voters, preferring anonymity, said Sarkar had occupied the polling station since morning. Anyone coming to the centres were told that they must vote for boat, they said.
But the on-duty police and election officials were silent during the incident.
The Daily Star collected some photos and videos of the incident.
Sarkar was a joint secretary of the Bogura town Jubo League unit but in August of 2017, Central Jubo League sacked him after his elder brother Toofan Sarkar was accused in a rape case.
Two voters wishing anonymity told The Daily Star that Sarkar and his men forced them to vote for boat and the supporters of other candidates were barred from entering the voting station.
When asked about the matter, Sarkar told The Daily Star, “We are not asking for votes in favour of the boat. My people are checking the list of voters at the polling station to give them information on voting.”