Sealed ballots from secret rooms in Kalapara spread to Facebook

Presence of voters was thin in the afternoon in Kalapara on Thursday.

Patuakhali: Although there was a strong presence of voters at polling centers in Kalapara, Patuakhali since morning, the polling centers started becoming empty of voters as the day progressed. Although the presence of women voters was observed in the morning, such a picture was not seen in the afternoon. However, a small number of people were seen in front of some polling centers.

Sources said that despite the large presence of law enforcement members, the mobile executive magistrate court, the judicial magistrate court and the strict defense of fair elections led by the chairman of the Election Investigation and Judicial Committee, voters following the candidate took pictures of ballots from secret rooms. Again, some were forced to take pictures after voting despite the risk. The picture they uploaded on Facebook shows the thumbs up to the EC's rules. In such a situation, many voters regretted not going to the polling station, but for the sake of security, they did not agree to publicize their statements in the media or reveal their names and addresses.

Meanwhile, around 11:30 am, a silent scene was seen at the Tulatuli Government Primary School polling station. Two Ansar members were standing at the gate of the polling station room, and inside, the candidates' agents and responsible officials were seen busy discussing. An hour or two later, almost the same scene was seen at the Dhankhali Degree College polling station. The male and female voter lines were completely empty. There was silent scene all around here too.

Earlier, after the voting started in the morning, Towhid Islam (16) and his associate Sohag Sikder (46) were arrested for trying to cast fake votes at the Khepupara Nesar Uddin Kamil Madrasa center in Kalapara municipality. On the other hand, around 9 am, police arrested a man named Belal Hossain (46) for taking pictures in a secret room at the Islampur Dakhil Madrasa center in Kuakata municipality. Assistant Returning Officer and Kalapara Upazila Executive Officer Kawsar Hamid confirmed the matter. In addition, around 10:30 pm on Wednesday night, Coast Guard members arrested Kajal Mridha (41), joint convener of the Municipal Sechasebok Dal, in front of the Khepupara Girls' Secondary School polling center in Kalapara municipality, as suspicious money along with Tk 50 lakh.

Assistant Returning Officer and Kalapara UNO Kawsar Hamid said, 55% votes have been cast till 2 pm. We will give information about this to the media after 4:30 pm. He also demanded that the voting ceremony be completed in a peaceful environment without any untoward incident.

According to EC sources, 378,073 voters have exercised their franchise in 111 polling stations in 114, Patuakhali-4 (Kalapara-Rangabali) constituency. In this constituency, BNP's ABM Mosharraf Hossain with the paddy sheaf symbol, Islami Andolan's candidate  Professor Mostafizur Rahman with the hand fan symbol and Jamaat-backed alliance's Khelafat Majlis' candidate with the wall clock symbol, Dr. Zahir Uddin Ahmed are contesting. - Gofran Palash