Opposition members in parliament today raised accusations of extensive electoral fraud during the Bogura-6 by-election and Sherpur-3 general election, leading to heated debates. Hannan Masud, a lawmaker from the National Citizen Party, asserted that polling agents were forcibly removed from polling centers, resulting in some agents being injured. He also claimed that even children were reportedly lined up to cast ballots, expressing concern that such actions were plunging the country into crisis. Masud made these statements during discussions on the Local Government (City Corporation) (Amendment) Bill.
In response to these allegations, Mir Shahe Alam, the State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development, and Co-operatives, refuted the claims and questioned the opposition’s timing in raising objections. He disputed the credibility of the opposition’s protest, highlighting that the allegations of rigging only emerged after 4:00 pm when it became apparent that the opposition was facing a certain defeat. This led to a press conference announcing the boycott, triggering a strong reaction from opposition members.
Challenging the state minister’s statements, Jamaat MP Rashedul Islam refuted the assertions, claiming that false information was being presented in parliament. He mentioned that the Jamaat candidate had declared a boycott before 2:00 pm, emphasizing that attacks had taken place resulting in injuries. Islam warned that the violence witnessed during the election indicated a troubling trend that could erode public trust in the electoral process if left unchecked.