Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar on Thursday alleged that ballot book counterfoils at several polling centres in the Thakurgaon-1 by-election had been stamped and signed in advance, potentially creating opportunities for fake voting.

“We have received reports that voters are being prevented from reaching polling stations and that, in some cases, votes have already been cast before the voters themselves could exercise their rights,” he said.

The Jamaat leader made these remarks at a press briefing at the party’s central office in the capital.

He cited an incident in which a woman was allegedly told that her vote had already been cast when she went to vote.

“Advance stamping and signing of ballot book counterfoils could create opportunities for fake voting,” he said, demanding an investigation into the allegations and action against those responsible.

He also alleged that voters had been intimidated, party activists assaulted, and polling agents prevented from performing their duties or forced out of polling centres.

He said presiding and polling officers at several centres had failed to produce proper identification badges when asked, raising questions about the verification of election officials.

The Jamaat leader further alleged that Hindu voters had been intimidated and that government employees and people working at educational institutions had been pressured over their support for Jamaat’s ‘daripalla’ (scales) symbol.

He also claimed that money had been distributed to buy votes in the constituency.

Criticising the Election Commission for its alleged failure to take effective action, he said a Jamaat delegation had met the chief election commissioner before the election and submitted nine written complaints and three demands.

The 11-party alliance had also lodged complaints with the commission over alleged irregularities, he added.

He said deploying a large number of law enforcement personnel alone could not guarantee a neutral election, adding that the army could have helped protect voters, prevent fake voting, and maintain order at polling centres.

He said the failure to address allegations of irregularities in a single by-election would raise questions about the impartiality of future elections to union parishads, municipalities, city corporations, and upazila parishads.