Nine Polling Officials Withdrawn in Thakurgaon-1 By-Election Over Alleged Support for Ruling Party

Election authorities have withdrawn nine assistant presiding officers from polling duty on the night before the Thakurgaon-1 by-election. They face allegations of directly or indirectly supporting the ruling party. Following the complaints, they were removed from duty and new officials were appointed in their place.

The matter was confirmed by Kamrul Islam, the returning officer for Thakurgaon-1 and the district election officer. He said the nine officials were withdrawn in response to various complaints and that new officials have been appointed in their place.

Those withdrawn include teachers from various educational institutions, as well as one bank official.

The withdrawn officials had been on duty at polling centres located in educational institutions in Thakurgaon municipality and Sadar upazila. They include Masud Rana of the Sabuj Government Primary School centre in Thakurgaon municipality and Joynal Abedin of the Thakurgaon Government College centre.

Also withdrawn were Zulfiqar Ali of the Thakurgaon Road Girls' High School centre, Farida Yasmin of the Gopalpur Government Primary School centre, and Sadekul Islam of the Salandar Panchpir Danga Independent Ebtedayee Madrasa centre.

The list further includes Mohammad Ali Jinnah of the Singia Munshipara Government Primary School centre, Obaidur Rahman of the Daulatpur Soleman Khan Multipurpose High School centre, Shahadul Islam of the Balapara Dwi-Mukhi High School centre, and Abdul Jabbar of the Baragram Alim Madrasa centre.

The withdrawal decision was taken after midnight on Thursday (29 October), on the very night before polling day. Voting began at 8 am today at the constituency's 185 centres and will continue without a break until 4 pm.

Counter-allegations also surfaced in the constituency on the night before the vote. The BNP and Jamaat candidates in the Thakurgaon-1 by-election traded allegations of intimidating voters, violating the electoral code of conduct, obstructing campaigning and attempting to buy votes with money. They raised the allegations at separate press conferences.

Five candidates from five parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, are contesting this by-election for the Thakurgaon-1 seat vacated by President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.