Serious allegations of electoral fraud and administrative bias emerged in Narayanganj on Wednesday night, following reports that a Presiding Officer with alleged partisan ties was found handling ballot papers behind closed doors. The incident occurred at the Dhankunda Popular High School centre under the Narayanganj-3 constituency, drawing a heavy deployment of the army, police, and senior administrative officials.
Table of Contents
Nocturnal Ballot Handling Triggers Alarm
The controversy erupted when a video circulated on social media purportedly showing ballot books scattered across the floor of a polling booth. According to Momtaz Uddin, former convener of the Narayanganj City Jubo Dal, he arrived at the centre at 7:00 pm to submit polling agent data but was initially barred from entry.
Upon forcing his way inside, Mr Uddin claimed to have discovered the Presiding Officer, Bashirul Haque Bhuiyan, accompanied by approximately ten unidentified individuals, including several women. He alleged that ballot papers were being prepared for fraudulent marking. While several individuals managed to flee the scene, the remaining parties were detained by local residents until the authorities arrived.
The Question of Partisan Neutrality
A central point of contention is the political history of the Presiding Officer. Azharul Islam (Mannan), the BNP candidate for the seat, alleged that Mr Bhuiyan is a former “Amir” (Chief) of the Siddhirganj Thana unit of Jamaat-e-Islami. This affiliation was later confirmed by Maulana Abdul Jabbar, the Narayanganj City Amir of Jamaat-e-Islami.
District Collector and Returning Officer Raihan Kabir acknowledged the possibility of the officer’s past political ties but defended the appointment, stating that Mr Bhuiyan was recruited in his professional capacity as a schoolteacher. He dismissed the reports of “ballot stuffing” as a rumour, asserting that the official was merely sorting ballots by room as per standard procedure.
Incident Summary: Dhankunda Popular High School
| Category | Details |
| Location | Siddhirganj, Narayanganj-3 |
| Primary Allegation | Illegal nighttime opening of ballot books |
| Official in Question | Bashirul Haque Bhuiyan (Presiding Officer) |
| Reported Affiliation | Former Thana Amir, Jamaat-e-Islami |
| Administrative Stance | Routine sorting; no foul play detected |
| Security Presence | Bangladesh Army, Police, and Executive Magistrates |
Divergent Narratives
The Assistant Returning Officer, Shahina Islam Chowdhury, addressed the press after inspecting the premises, maintaining that all ballots were accounted for and matched the voter list. She insisted that no outsiders were present and that the activities were strictly preparatory.
Conversely, the local Jamaat-e-Islami leadership labelled the incident as “motivated propaganda” designed to tarnish their reputation. Meanwhile, the Presiding Officer himself declined to provide a detailed statement to journalists on-site, citing the pressures of his official duties. Despite the administrative assurances, the presence of a known partisan figure in a position of electoral neutrality has left local voters and opposition candidates deeply skeptical as the polls approach.