Eight supporters of Awami League (AL) lawmaker Kazi Abdul Wadud Dara, arrested while capturing the Hatinada Non-government Primary School polling centre during Thursday's upazila election, were released on bail yesterday.
They are Shamim,25, Kalu, 25, Abul Kalam, 35, Abdur Rahman, 28, Raju, 22, Ashraf, 26, Joynal, 25 of Biraldaha and Tuhin, 22 of Agla village. All of them confessed before court about their loyalty to Dara.
The electoral court of judicial magistrate Muhammad Alamgir released them following a bail bond given by their lawyer.
The court, however, fixed today the date for hearing of allegations brought against them by presiding officer of the centre Lutfullahel Shafi during Thursday's upazila elections.
Minutes after the AL lawmaker went out of the centre after casting vote, the eight took over the booth and snatched about 100 ballots. They managed to drop 52 ballots into the ballot box in favour of chairman and vice chairman candidates supported by Dara.
Later, army men arrested them and handed over them to police.
When contacted, Dara denied the allegations brought against him saying he had no association with the eight. He also denied to have lobbied for their release.