Jamaat candidate boycotts Sherpur-3 by-poll

Jamaat-e-Islami nominated candidate Md Masudur Rahman has announced his boycott of the Sherpur-3 (Sreebardi-Jhenaigati) parliamentary by-election, alleging widespread irregularities.

He made the announcement at a press conference around 3:00 PM on Thursday while voting was underway.

Earlier in the day, he also addressed journalists at the party office in Sreebardi, claiming incidents of ballot stuffing, vote rigging and the expulsion of his polling agents from various centres.

Protesting these alleged irregularities, he declared his withdrawal from the election midway through the polling process.

Polling began in the morning with major candidates casting their votes at their respective centres. Masudur Rahman voted at Tatihati Government Primary School centre in Sreebardi at 8:00 AM, while BNP candidate and former MP Mahmudul Haque Rubel cast his vote at Ruparpara Government Primary School centre in Khariakazirchar union around 10:00 AM.

A total of three candidates contested the seat, including BNP’s Mahmudul Haque Rubel, Jamaat’s Md Masudur Rahman and BASAD (Marxist) candidate Mizanur Rahman.

The constituency comprises 17 unions and one municipality, with 128 polling centres and 751 booths. A total of 413,377 voters were eligible to cast their ballots. Voter turnout showed a mixed trend throughout the day.

Authorities deployed extensive security measures, including 32 mobile teams and striking forces. Each polling centre had five policemen, with six deployed at important centres, alongside 13 Anser personnel per centre.

Additionally, 14 executive magistrates and two judicial magistrates were on duty. Election monitoring was conducted by 18 election commission observers and three members of the election inquiry committee.

More than 200 army personnel in eight mobile teams, 16 platoons of BGB, 14 RAB teams and around 1,150 police members were deployed to ensure law and order.

The by-election was held after the earlier scheduled vote on February 12 was postponed following the death of Jamaat candidate Nuruzzaman Badal.

MS/AM