Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leaders and activists seemed to have taken Awami League presidium member Abdur Rahman’s instruction of “occupying and controlling” polling centres seriously, as members of the ruling party’s student wing were seen in large numbers at seven centres inside Dhaka University (DU) campus. 

The BCL men made fake queues in front of different centres to create the illusion of a high voter turnout, beat up a voter for casting vote for BNP’s electoral symbol “sheaf of paddy”, and allegedly forced BNP agents stationed at the polling centres out during the elections to Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) yesterday.

 This correspondent visited seven polling centres including Curzon Hall, University Laboratory School, Qazi Motahar Hossain Bhaban, DU Gymnasium, Public Library, Udayan School and Buet from 8am to 3pm.

Among these, this correspondent was barred from entering polling rooms of six centres by law enforcers, and was allowed to enter only the polling rooms of the Public Library centre.

Police and Ansar personnel said no journalist can be let into the rooms without permission. Later, presiding officers of the centres came out of their rooms and spoke to the newspaper, but did not allow him in.

Around 10:15am, a 35-year-old man was heading out from the booth after casting his vote from Curzon Hall centre.

A group of Chhatra League activists of DU, enquired the man symbol he voted for, and beat him up as the latter answered that he voted for “sheaf of paddy”.

The voter could not be contacted following the incident, as he ran to safety after he was beaten up by the youths, saw this correspondent.

The attackers had taken position near the centre in the morning, and were asking each person who they voted for as they were leaving the centre. One of the attackers was heard saying, “Beat him up. He is a BNP man.”

Earlier in the morning, a mobile court led by an executive magistrate removed at least 60 men who made fake lines in front of the Curzon Hall centres. However, they returned soon after the magistrate left.

At around 9am, eight agents of BNP were threatened and asked to leave polling stations at Curzon Hall and Udayan School, alleged convener of DU white panel teachers, Prof ABM Obaidul Islam.

“The situation of other four centres I have visited so far are the same,” he said around 10am.

Later, the pro-BNP teachers submitted a written complaint to the presiding officer of University Laboratory School centre, said Prof Obaidul. He alleged that BNP agents were not allowed at any of the centres.

Agents of Islami Andolan Bangladesh and AL were seen present at the centre since morning.

Meanwhile, voter turnout was sparse till 10am. However, the turnout saw a little rise as the day progressed.

Abdul Motaleb, presiding officer of University Laboratory School told The Daily Star that only three votes were cast at his centre till 9:40am, over an hour and a half after voting began.

Some 80 out of 2,354 votes were cast at the Buet polling centretill 12 noon, said Presiding Officer Bashudeb. This reporter, however, found the premises of the centre empty at the time.

Only 61 votes were cast out of 1,879 at Motaher Hossain building, 57 out of 2,271 at Curzon Hall, and 128 out of 2,400 at DU Gymnasium centres till 10:15 am, according to respective presiding officers.

Udyan School presiding officer said he did not see BNP agents at the polling stations, and was trying to hold the elections smoothly. Presiding officers in other centres echoed him.

Contacted about the allegations, BCL central unit president Al Nahean Khan Joy said he did not hear anything about forming of fake queues or assaulting a voter, adding that he would look into it.