The younger brother of Bangladesh Awami League General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, along with two other candidates, boycotted the Upazila election on Wednesday, citing serious allegations of electoral malpractice.
Shahadat Hossain, Obaidul Quader's brother and chairman candidate, along Upazila Awami League General Secretary Mizanur Rahman Badal and female vice chairman candidate Fatema Begum Parul, announced their boycott after filing a written complaint with the District Returning Officer around 12:30 PM.
They demanded a reschedule and a re-vote, highlighting incidents of forceful expulsion of agents, destruction of agent forms, occupation of voting centres, and casting of fake votes.
Hossain, Badal, and Parul accused Mayor Quader Mirza and his son Tashiq Mirza of orchestrating the disruption. They alleged that Mirza's agents tore up voter papers and expelled agents from centres before the polls opened at 8 a.m. By 8:30 AM, they claimed Mirza had sealed ballots and filled boxes. Despite notifying the administration, no action was taken to address these issues.
Shahadat Hossain lamented, "I could not vote for myself as a candidate. Mayor Quader Mirza and his son did not allow me to vote." He called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to intervene and ensure a fair election.
Mizanur Rahman Badal echoed these concerns, stating that the pre-poll environment was hostile. "There was no voting environment even before the polls. I could not campaign freely or reach out to voters. Despite multiple written complaints, the authorities took no action," he said. Badal described incidents of voter intimidation, with motorcycle gangs terrorising neighbourhoods and causing panic.
He also reported an attack on voters travelling by boat to a polling centre, where supporters of the "pineapple" symbol allegedly injured them. Badal accused Tashiq Mirza of leading an armed group in illegal vehicles, preventing votes for candidates other than those supporting the pineapple symbol. He stressed the need for rescheduling the election to protect the Awami League's reputation and that of their leader, Obaidul Quader.
Returning Officer Muhammad Ismail responded to these allegations, promising an investigation. "We will look into their complaints. Necessary measures will be taken by the Election Commission after verifying the facts," he assured.
Polling continued across 357 centres in three upazilas of the district, with 34 candidates vying for positions, including 12 chairman candidates, 13 vice-chairman candidates, and 9 female vice-chairpersons. However, the boycott and allegations of malpractice cast a shadow over the electoral process, raising concerns about the fairness and integrity of the election.
