A case has been filed against 250 people, including former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former chairman of Barishal Sadar Upazila Saidur Rahman Rintu and a returning officer in Barishal, accusing them of vote rigging in the national election 10 years ago.
Moniruzzaman Jamal filed the case on 29 September on behalf of a BNP-nominated chairman candidate who participated in the election in 2014 and lost, said Barishal Metropolitan Kotwali Model police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mizanur Rahman.
“We have started investigating the case and trying to arrest those accused in the case,” said the OC.
Moniruzzaman Jamal said, “Until now, there was no opportunity to seek justice. Now, I have filed a case because law is being exercised without favouritism.”
He said that BNP candidate Kazi Enayet Hossain Bachchu was defeated by Awami League candidate Saidur Rahman Rintu, who is the cousin of former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, in the 2014 upazila council election by misusing his power.
Rintu forced BNP nominated chairman, vice chairman and reserved vice chairman candidates to leave the area by using his influence. Later, he set fire to every election office in the upazila, sued BNP leaders for the arson incident and sent them to jail. He looted votes in the election.
Saidur Rahman Rintu held a meeting with Returning Officer Dulal Talukder and declared himself as the winner by filling the ballot boxes with threats of bombs and weapons in 30 centers.
Former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, former Chairman of Barisal Sadar Upazila Saidur Rahman Rintu, Akter Hossain Akez, Joint Convener of Barisal Mahanagar Jubo League Abual Hossain Arun, Election Returning Officer [now Comilla Regional Officer Dulal Talukder] and 250 unknown persons have been named as defendants in the case.
