A mobile court sentenced two polling agents to prison for attempting to exert undue influence at a polling centre in Mirpur and ordered the dismissal of a polling officer over the same incident.
The incident took place at Mirpur Shahid Smrity High School polling centre in the capital. Authorities said two agents of Jamaat-e-Islami illegally entered the centre and tried to influence the voting process with the assistance of the on-duty polling officer, Mosammat Sumana Islam.
Under Section 73(2)(B) of the Representation of the People Order, 1972, the two agents received two years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Tk 5,000 each. In default of payment, they will have to serve an additional 15 days in jail.
Sumana Islam, an assistant teacher, was relieved of her duties immediately and ordered to be dismissed following the incident.
Sources said she is the wife of the general secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami’s local Ward No. 6. Authorities took action after the allegation of attempted undue influence at the polling centre.
