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Jamaat candidate alleges irregularities in Thakurgaon-1 by-election
Published : Thursday, 29 October, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Observer Online Report
Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Delawar Hossain has alleged widespread irregularities in the Thakurgaon-1 by-election, claiming that ballot papers were stamped in advance and several BNP activists were caught attempting to cast fake votes.
“We did not participate in the election to boycott voting. We called for a neutral and transparent election,” he told journalists at Doalpara High School polling centre in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila on Thursday afternoon.
Hossain said he found that several presiding officers, assistant presiding officers and polling officers lacked identity cards during his visits to polling centres. Some cards also lacked photographs, raising questions about the officials’ identities, he alleged.
He further claimed that 20 to 25 ballot booklets had been stamped in advance, describing the matter as alarming. He alleged that some voters had received two or three ballot papers with assistance from election officials.
According to Hossain, five to six BNP activists had already been caught attempting to cast fake votes. He also accused BNP supporters of entering polling booths wearing T-shirts bearing the party’s sheaf of paddy symbol, allegedly violating the electoral code of conduct. He said the matter had been brought to the attention of the administration.
The Jamaat candidate called for a transparent election, referring to alleged irregularities in previous elections in Magura, Bogura and Sherpur. He said the administration had failed to make adequate preparations despite the by-election being held in only one constituency.
According to election office sources, voting is taking place at 185 polling centres across Thakurgaon Sadar, Ruhia and Bhulli. Of these, 113 are in Thakurgaon Sadar, 33 in Ruhia and 39 in Bhulli.
The constituency has 515,853 registered voters, including 257,219 men, 258,630 women and four third-gender voters. A total of 287 voters have registered to vote by postal ballot, including 249 men and 38 women.
Six candidates initially had their nominations declared valid following scrutiny on September 29. BNP candidate Mohammad Obaidullah Masud later withdrew his candidacy on October 5 following a party decision, leaving five candidates in the race.
The main contest is expected to be between BNP candidate Mirza Faisal Amin and Jamaat candidate Delawar Hossain.
In the 13th parliamentary election held on February 12, BNP candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir won the seat with 228,075 votes, while Hossain received 132,584 votes. Islami Andolan Bangladesh candidate Hafez Dr Mohammad Khademul Islam secured 3,833 votes.
The seat fell vacant after Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was elected president, prompting the by-election.
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Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, 01550707296
E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]. [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], Online-email: [email protected]
