5 election officers arrested for 'secret meeting' in Sirajganj

Six people, including five presiding officers, were arrested for allegedly holding a "secret meeting to work for a chairman candidate" in the Sirajganj Upazila Parishad election, slated for 8 May.

The arrested presiding officers are Serajul Islam, assistant prof of Jamuna Degree College, Ashraful Islam, principal of SB Railway Colony School and College, Abu Sama, lecturer of Sirajganj Police Lines School and College, Babu Kumar Ghosh, lecturer of Ratankandi School and College, Yasin Arafat, senior principal officer at Janata Bank Sirajganj Zonal Office.

The other arrestee is Aminul Islam, assistant teacher of Shialkole Government Primary School and president of Sirajganj District Primary Teachers' Association.

"Cancelling the appointment of 10 presiding officers, including the arrested ones, the local administration appointed 10 new presiding officers," said Mir Mohammad Mahbubur Rahman, Sirajganj deputy commissioner, at a press conference on Monday night.

He said they conducted a joint drive with the police, election office, and district administration after being tipped off that several presiding officers were holding a secret meeting involving supporting a chairman candidate at a resort in the Sadar upazila.

Though no one could be arrested from the spot during the drive, later CCTV footage and some resort staff were taken to the local police station for questioning, he said.

Police Superintendent Arifur Rahman Mandal said later, they conducted drives in the district and arrested them, including Aminul Islam who coordinated the meeting. 

He said the operation to arrest others is going on, adding that a case was filed with the Sadar police station, accusing 20 individuals, including eight unidentified ones.

The upazila parishad elections will be held in four phases, starting today (Wednesday).