Asst presiding officer held in Noakhali over alleged misconduct

Rizia Sultana, an assistant presiding officer at a polling centre in Hatiya, has been suspended and detained over allegations of publicly stamping voters’ ballots during Thursday’s parliamentary election.

The incident occurred at Hatiya Shahar Balika High School polling centre in the Noakhali-6 constituency.

Rizia Sultana also serves as an assistant teacher at Hatiya Syedya High School.

Confimring the matter, Presiding Officer Abdul Baset Shobuz told Jago News that a video showing the alleged misconduct went viral on social media around midday.

Following the circulation of the video, the officer was suspended and detained.

The video reportedly shows her stamping one ballot with a ‘Yes’ vote and another with the ‘Shapla Kali’ symbol.

Rizia Sultana, however, denied any wrongdoing, explaining that she stamped the ballots at the request of a voter who had brought her three-month-old infant to the polling station. She added that she had sought approval from the presiding officer and candidate agents before taking the action.

Hatiya Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Saiful Alam said the officer has not yet been brought to the police station due to her ongoing election duties.

A final decision would be made after consultation with senior officials, he added.

IAE/MHK