Gaibandha by-election: Irregularities well-orchestrated

GBNEWS24DESK//

Commission recommended punishment for 134 officials involved in Gaibandha-5 by-polls after its probe found their involvement in irregularities and negligence in performing duties.

They include the returning officer for the October 12 by-election;  125 local government and presiding officers, including teachers and bankers; an executive magistrate; and an additional deputy commissioner.

The commission, however, did not recommend any action against the Gaibandha deputy commissioner and superintendent of police as the probe did not find their involvement in the irregularities, according to Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal.

The EC in its probe found that irregularities took place at 125 polling centres out of the total 145. Besides, the committee could not comment on the situation at 16 centres as CCTV footage there was not available. No irregularities took place at four polling stations, it added.

The EC in its review said voting irregularities took place in almost all polling stations. “It was done in a coordinated and well-planned way and many were involved in the planning,” it added.

In a move not seen in recent times, the EC stopped the Gaibandha-5 by-polls, saying the situation went “out of control” due to widespread irregularities.

The CEC and other commissioners, while monitoring the CCTV footage at the EC office on October 12, found some people illegally present in the polling booths and influencing voters.

ACTIONS AND REASONS

At a press conference at his Dhaka office yesterday, CEC Awal  said the EC secretariat will take departmental action against the EC’s Rajshahi Regional Election Officer Saiful Islam, also the returning officer for the by-polls, for negligence of duties within a month, in line with the Election Officials (Special Provision) Act, 1991.

The EC also recommended relevant offices to take action against 125 presiding officers (PO).

The EC officials said the POs of these centres have grossly neglected their duties, and there was no atmosphere for fair voting inside the polling booths. They did not even take any initiative to restore the proper voting atmosphere.

The CEC at the press conference said they recommended that the authorities concerned take action against Gobaindganj Police Station sub-inspectors Tarun Kumar, Abdullah Al Mamun and Anisur Rahman, Sadullahpur Police Station SI Kanak Ranjan Barman and Panchagar’s Atoaari Police Station ASI Dulal Hossain for misconduct and negligence.

According to the EC officials, these police officials did not take any action against irregularities, despite the request of the POs. Rather, the law enforcers asked the polls officials to look the other way.

The commission also suggested taking action against Saiful Islam, PO of polling centre-94, as he, amid the ongoing investigation, took part in a live programme and said the election was free and fair.

The EC recommended action against Gaibandha ADC (general) Sushanta Kumar Mahato, as he forced the PO to write a statement saying the election was free and fair.