Sirajganj Correspondent: A teacher and five presiding officers have been arrested by the police for holding a secret meeting on behalf of a candidate at a resort called Kadai Garden Palace near the city in connection with the upazila elections in Sirajganj. In this incident, District Election Officer Mohammad Shahidul Islam, the Returning Officer of the Upazila Parishad Election, filed a case against 28 people, including eight names.
Deputy Commissioner Mir Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman said these things in an emergency press conference at the conference room of the Sirajganj District Commissioner’s office at 10 p.m. on Monday, May 6.
Superintendent of Police (SP) Arifur Rahman Mondal and Upazila Parishad Election Returning Officer Mohammad Shahidul Islam were also present at this time.
The arrested are: Assistant Professor of Yamuna Degree College, Presiding Officer of Rashidajoha Government Women’s College Centre, Serajul Islam, Headmaster of SB Railway Colony High School, and Presiding Officer of Haji Omar Ali Qaumi Madrasa Centre. Ashraful Islam is the lecturer of Sirajganj Police Lines School and College and the presiding officer of the SB Railway Colony Government Primary School Centre. Abusama, Lecturer of Bahuka Degree College and Presiding Officer of Bonbaria Paikpara Model School (Male) Centre, Bachchu Kumar Ghosh, Principal Officer of Area Office of Janata Bank Plc, and Presiding Officer of Harina Bagbati School Centre. Yassin Arafat.
Besides, another person among those arrested is the main organizer of this secret meeting, the assistant teacher of Sialkol Government Primary School and the president of the Sirajganj district branch of the Bangladesh Government Primary School Assistant Teachers Association.
In a press conference, Deputy Commissioner Mir Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman said, ‘Yesterday, around 8:00 p.m., we received secret information that some presiding officers were having a secret meeting with a man to question the election. As soon as heard, the Executive Magistrate and the Police Returning Officer conducted the operation. But they ran away before realizing it. Later, the returning officer filed a complaint at the Sadar Police Station. Immediately, the Superintendent of Police identified who was there through technology and subsequently arrested five presiding officers and the main organizer of this meeting.
At that time, SP Arifur Rahman Mondal said, ‘We collected digital foot prints from there and confirmed who was present there. After that, we arrested the mastermind who organized the meeting, along with the five presiding officers in that case.
The SP said, “We are trying to interrogate them and find out who else was present and who was involved.” Then further action will be taken accordingly.
Upazila Parishad Election Returning Officer District Election Officer Mohammad Shahidul Islam said, ‘We conducted a raid on the resort and found the truth by questioning the officials and employees there. Later, I informed the Election Commission and filed a case in consultation with them. We have already changed the 10 presiding officers against whom the complaint has been received and given the responsibility to others.
Shahidul Islam said, “We gave the candidate grief, and he gave his answer. Later, I will send it to the Election Commission for action. If the complaint is proved, action will be taken according to that law.
In response to a question from journalists that the meeting was going on for a candidate, the returning officer said, “We are interrogating the arrested on these issues.” Hopefully, after intensive questioning, we will know which candidate they were meeting together for. Action will be taken against the one whose name comes up.
It is mentioned that earlier on Sunday night, the current chairman of Sirajganj Sadar Upazila held a secret meeting with the presiding officers of the chairman candidate of the upcoming elections, Anars Uddin, in that park; the district returning officer raided the park. After collecting the CCTV footage from the park, the District Returning Officer mourned Riaz Uddin of the chairman candidate Anaras Prateik on Monday morning and said that the incident was not true at night.
The Sirajganj Sadar Upazila Parishad election will be held on May 8. Five candidates are contesting for the post of chairman in this election. They are… SM Nasim Reza Noor (motorcycle), he is the former Chhatra League leader and former Upazila Parishad Vice Chairman, Md. Nurul Islam Sajal (Cup-Pirich), he is the general secretary of the Sadar Upazila Awami League, Mohammad Riaz Uddin (Pineapple), he is the former chairman of the Sadar Upazila Parishad and former president of the Sadar Upazila Awami League, Rashed Yusuf Jewel (Dowat Kalam), and he is the convener of the District Jubo League. And nephew of the late Health Minister Mohammad Nasim and SM Ahsan Habib (a horse), he is the Publicity and Publication Secretary of the District Awami League.
