A businessman arrested with six illegal rubber stamps inscribing 16 square marks to be used for stamping votes in Lakshmipur has confessed in court that the stamps were made on the instructions of a Jamaat-e-Islami leader, triggering fresh controversy ahead of the election.
Md Sohel Rana, owner of Maryam Printers in Lakshmipur municipality, gave a confessional statement under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code after being produced before the court on Wednesday (February 4). Following the confession, the court sent him to jail.
According to police, Sohel Rana, owner of the printing and rubber stamp making firm, admitted that the vote seals were made at the order of Sourav Hossain alias Sharif, a Jamaat-e-Islami leader of ward 4 of Lakshmipur municipality.
He said Sharif placed the order through WhatsApp on January 30.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Hossain Mohammad Raihan Kazemi confirmed the matter on Wednesday night.
“We arrested Sohel Rana with six rubber stamps that are used in polling centres. During interrogation and in his confessional statement, he named Sharif Hossain Sourav as the person who ordered the seals to be made. We are trying to arrest him,” Kazemi said.
Police said a case has been filed at Lakshmipur Sadar Model Police Station against two people in connection with the incident. Sub-Inspector Humayun Kabir lodged the case.
When asked about the political identity of the accused Jamaat leader, the additional superintendent said the matter was under verification.
“We have received some photos and greetings indicating his political involvement. After arresting him, we will be able to confirm his background clearly,” he added.
Police officials said making vote seals indicates an intention to cast fake votes, and the investigation is continuing to determine the motive behind the act and whether others were involved.
Sohel Rana ,34, son of Khurshid Alam of Tumchar Union in Sadar Upazila, was arrested on Tuesday, February 3 afternoon from his printing press on Old Court Road in Lakshmipur town. Police recovered six illegal vote seals, a computer and a mobile phone from the press.
Officer-in-Charge of Lakshmipur Sadar Model Police Station Wahed Parvez confirmed the confession, saying, “The accused told the court that the seals were made following instructions from Jamaat leader Sourav Hossain alias Sharif.”
Following the disclosure, Jamaat-e-Islami announced the expulsion of Sourav Hossain from the party.
Lakshmipur Municipal Jamaat Amir Abul Farah Nishan said Sourav was a ward-level worker and had been expelled for damaging the party’s image. A three-member committee has also been formed to investigate the matter.
Meanwhile, the incident has sparked political reactions in the district. BNP candidate for Lakshmipur-3 constituency Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie expressed concern, alleging a “deep conspiracy” behind the recovery of the vote seals.
Jamaat-e-Islami, however, rejected BNP’s claims. At a late-night press conference, Jamaat candidate Rezaul Karim accused BNP of spreading false information by linking the party to the incident.
A senior police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said investigators are examining whether the seals were made for voter training purposes or for use in ballot manipulation on election day.
“The motive and the possible involvement of others are being thoroughly investigated,” said OC Wahed Parvez.