Textile and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi and the Awami League (AL) candidate for the Narayanganj-1 (Rupganj) constituency has allegedly resorted to bribing voters to ensure a win in the 7 January national election.

Local people have observed that the minister fears that independent runners Shahjahan Bhuiyan, former upazila parishad chairman, will win if the election is held fairly and peacefully, prompting him to buy votes. Gazi has reportedly given Tk1,000 to each voter checking their national ID cards.

Textile and Jute Minister Golam Dastagir Gazi and the Awami League (AL) candidate for the Narayanganj-1 (Rupganj) constituency has allegedly resorted to bribing voters to ensure a win in the 7 January national election.

Local people have observed that the minister fears that independent runners Shahjahan Bhuiyan, former upazila parishad chairman, will win if the election is held fairly and peacefully, prompting him to buy votes. Gazi has reportedly given Tk1,000 to each voter checking their national ID cards.

Meanwhile, locals and the supporters of the independent candidate, Trinamool BNP and Jatiya Party have alleged that armed hoodlums have started to gather in different areas in Rupganj centring the 12th parliamentary election to be held tomorrow.

Local people alleged that the incumbent lawmaker of the constituency, Gazi, has grabbed the land of many people in the last 15 years and given shelter to drug traders and other criminals.

The Daily Sun has received a video that shows that voters are being given money at an under-construction building owned by the ward-9 president of Baraboo Bazar.

The video shows a significant number of people gathered there. Locals have confirmed some of their names, including ward-9 AL President Muljar, AL leader Ratan Mia and Khorshed. They were giving money to voters.

This reporter talked to a woman who took money from Muljar without revealing her identity. She acknowledged that she had taken money but denied that it was a bribe for giving the vote to the “Boat” symbol.

The correspondent asked her if he would get the money if he goes to Muljar. The woman said, “Yes, you will get the money if you are a voter in this constituency.”

Wishing anonymity, a local shopkeeper said, “Muljar is close to Gazi. He is in charge of the election campaign in the area. That is why, people are coming to him and taking money.”

All who took money are voters of the area, he added and refused to talk further out of fear.

Rupganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Assistant Returning Officer Mohammad Mahmud Hasan Rasel said he had heard about the incident and would take action after reviewing the video footage.

Fear grips Rupganj as hoodlums gather centring polls

Armed hoodlums have started to gather in different areas in Rupganj centring the 12th parliamentary election to be held tomorrow.

Locals said fear has gripped them as 63 out of 185 polling centres have been marked risky as there are possibilities of violence taking place there on the polls day.

The supporters of the independent candidate are also afraid as the Awami League-nominated candidate’s supporters have allegedly attacked them during the electioneering.

Even though nine candidates are in the electoral race in the constituency, the main competition is likely to take place among AL candidate Golam Dastagir Gazi with the “boat” symbol, independent candidate Shahjahan Bhuiyan with the “kettle” symbol, Trinamool BNP candidate Advocate Taimur Alam Khandaker with the “golden fibre” symbol and Jatiya Party candidate Saiful Islam with the “plough” symbol.

According to the Election Commission, the number of voters in the constituency is 3,85,616 but sources in the parties saidthe voter turnout in the Rupganj may be lower due to violent incidents happened recently.

On Monday night, police arrested Mahfuz, a supporter of AL-backed candidate Gazi, with a foreign pistol and some drugs. That day, local goons set fire to electioneering camps of the independent candidate in the Nawra and Ponab areas. 

The goons also carried out an attack on the house of an independent candidate’s supporter in Gutulia. They allegedly looted cash and gold ornaments from the house.

The supporters of the “boat” symbol hacked bus driver Shahin in the Chonpara slum, claimed locals.

A few days ago, the armed cadres of Kanchan Municipality Unit AL’s General Secretary Golam Rosul Koli reportedly vandalised a sweetmeat shop in Kanchon Bazar.

At that time, Daku Shamsher and his cohorts allegedly beat up 35 freedom fighters who were supporters of the independent candidate.

It was also alleged that Gazi, using his influence as a minister, had recruited many of his family members in various positions of the educational institutions in the constituency.

Supporters of Shahjahan Bhuiyan, who recently resigned as the upazila chairman post for vying in the election race, said the people of the area support him as they want to be protected from the tyranny of Gazi. They also want to give a good lesson to Gazi through exercising their voting rights.

Shahjahan Bhuiyan complained that Golam Dastagir Gazi made a “Gazi League” in Rupganj by his cohorts. 
He said that he fears the criminal activities by the supporters of Gazi.

Advocate Taimur Alam Khandaker told the Daily Sun that the supporters of Gazi tore his electoral posters and have been threatening voters in different ways.

Jobayer Hossain, inspector (investigation) of Rupganj Police Station, said they were working to keep the atmosphere stable in the centres which have been marked as risky.

BDST: 1710 HRS, JAN 06, 2024