Kamrul Ahsan Rupan, an independent candidate for mayor, has reported that polling agents were barred from entering various Barisal City Corporation (BCC) polling centers.
This candidate for the table clock symbol claims to be "hundred percent optimistic" about winning if voter turnout is high.
Although BNP is not in the polls this time, Rupon, a member of BNP, is hoping to get party voters on his side. He cast his vote at Alekanda Govt Primary School center on Kalushah Road around 8.30 am after polling started today.
While expressing satisfaction with the polling environment, Rupon alleged that the table clock agents were being `harassed` in some centers.
He told the reporters, "Some complaints are coming from the center - our polling agent is not being given a card till now. They are not allowed to enter. They`re asking for the candidate`s signature, but my chief agent there, who has his signature, they`re still having a problem with that.”
This independent candidate said, "In two centers of ward number five, the polling agents are not able to enter there, because the presiding officer said that the agent should have brought the form last night. But no such thing was reported earlier.”
When asked to know in which center there is such a problem, he said that he will tell the names later.
In response to the question of why this would happen, Rupon said, "They have fear maybe if the results change. Because the Prime Minister`s brother-in-law is a mayoral candidate here. Maybe the government is doing this to take his side.”
Complaining that there is a `some problem` with EVM, this candidate said, "Earlier, EVM was used in only four wards in the city corporation elections, this time it is being done in 30 wards. There are many common people in Barisal who don`t know much about EVM. Also, I am having a little trouble understanding myself.``
"Still I think at the polling station... as they are cooperating it will be possible to vote," he added.
Although Rupan currently has no post, he was once a member of the Central and Dhaka University branches of the Chhatra Dal. His father Ahsan Habib Kamal became mayor in 2013 after defeating Awami League mayor Shawkat Hossain Hiron.
BNP expelled Rupon for a lifetime for taking part in the election defying the party`s decision. Along with him, 15 councilor candidates and three reserved women councilor candidates have also been expelled.
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