Three held by locals while allegedly buying votes beaten lightly, handed jail terms and fines

❐ District Correspondent

Locals arrested three workers of independent candidate Sadiqur Rahman Siddiqui Shuvo on charges of buying votes in Jamalpur-3 (Melandah-Madarganj) constituency in exchange for money. They gave them good and bad grades.

Later, they were each sentenced to one month in prison and fined Tk 5,000 by a mobile court.

The incident took place in the Chargolabari area of ​​Madarganj Upazila on Wednesday afternoon, February 11.

The convicts are Jahangir Islam (45), Jahurul Islam (50) and Mehedi Hasan (30). They all live in the Chobilapur area of ​​Melandaha upazila.

According to local sources, around noon, three people in a microbus were distributing cash among voters in the Koyra and Golabari areas of Madarganj Upazila.

Realizing the attempt to buy votes with money, the locals arrested them from the Chargolabari area. Later, the arrested people were taken to Koyra Bazar. Locals said that they were given good and medium grades while being taken.

Later, the police and the assistant returning officer were informed. Upon receiving the information, the judicial magistrate arrived at the spot and conducted a mobile court. As the charges were proven, the court sentenced each of them to 1 month imprisonment and a fine of 5,000 taka.

Independent candidate Sadiqur Rahman Siddiqui Shuvo alleged that the incident was planned. The person who detained his workers had previously threatened to kill him.

He also said that a general diary (GD) has been filed with the police station in this incident. He also alleged that the appointment of agents in the elections is being obstructed.

On the other hand, Madarganj Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and Assistant Returning Officer Sumon Chowdhury said that Judicial Magistrate Arif Hossain sentenced the three arrested to one month in prison and fined them Tk 5,000 each as the allegations of distributing money among voters were proven.