In Faridpur, a polling agent representing the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has been fined for allegedly distributing cash to voters inside a polling station. The Judicial Court imposed a BDT 10,000 fine on the agent, with a default sentence of one month’s imprisonment should the fine remain unpaid.
The order was issued at 12:30 pm on Thursday by Md. Salauddin, Chairman of the Electoral Investigation and Judicial Committee-213 and Senior Civil Judge.
The incident occurred at the Bismillah Shah Dargah Fazil Madrasa polling centre, located in the Faridpur-3 constituency. The accused, Tanzir Islam, son of Hafizur Islam of Dewra village, was serving as a BNP polling agent during the voting process.
According to the Judicial Court, the presiding officer of the centre, Masuduzzaman, reported the agent after receiving complaints from other party agents. Tanzir Islam was allegedly attempting to influence voters by offering cash in exchange for votes in favour of the BNP’s symbol, the “Sheaf of Paddy.” The act was deemed a violation of electoral law under Section 13(c) of the 2025 Electoral Code.
After investigation and confession, the court invoked Section 91(B)(2) of the 1972 Electoral Act, imposing a BDT 10,000 fine with a one-month prison term in case of non-payment.
Presiding Officer Masuduzzaman confirmed the incident, stating that the complaint had been lodged by a polling agent representing Jamaat, who reported that Tanzir Islam was distributing money to voters to encourage them to vote for the BNP candidate. Following the complaint, local authorities acted promptly to detain the agent and initiate legal proceedings.
Summary of the Incident
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Polling Station | Bismillah Shah Dargah Fazil Madrasa, Faridpur-3 |
| Date & Time | Thursday, 12:30 pm |
| Accused | Tanzir Islam, son of Hafizur Islam |
| Political Party | BNP |
| Alleged Offence | Distributing cash to voters to influence votes |
| Electoral Law Violated | Electoral Law-2025, Section 13(c) |
| Court Order | BDT 10,000 fine; one-month imprisonment if unpaid |
| Presiding Officer | Masuduzzaman |
This incident has sparked concerns over electoral integrity in the region, highlighting ongoing challenges in ensuring free and fair voting practices. Election officials have reiterated the importance of strict adherence to the law and warned all polling agents against any attempts to manipulate voters through inducements.