A presiding officer in Naogaon was withdrawn from duty on Thursday after allegedly signing and stamping a result sheet before vote counting and the official announcement of results.
The incident took place around 12:00pm at Katkhair High School polling centre in Sadar upazila.
Assistant Returning Officer and Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Ibnul Abedin took the action at around 1:30pm, removing Nazim Uddin from his duties. Nazim Uddin is employed as an Assistant Sub-Engineer in the Naogaon Roads and Highways Department.
Eyewitnesses said that during voting, the presiding officer signed and affixed his official seal on the pre-prepared result sheet. According to election regulations, result sheets are to be completed and signed in the presence of polling agents only after the counting of votes is completed.
When questioned, Nazim Uddin admitted to signing the sheet in advance, stating, “Preparing the result after voting can take time, and sometimes there is a time constraint. I signed it beforehand to save time, but I am not sure if this was fully in accordance with the rules.”
UNO Mohammad Ibnul Abedin said that there is no provision for signing result sheets before counting begins.
Following verification of the complaint, the presiding officer was withdrawn from the centre, and a new officer has been appointed to oversee the polling process, he added.
Arman Hossain Ruman/MHK