CCTV surveillance has EC suspend questionable Gaibandha by-polls | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Friday
May 30, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
FRIDAY, MAY 30, 2025
CCTV surveillance has EC suspend questionable Gaibandha by-polls

Bangladesh

TBS Report
12 October, 2022, 10:05 pm
Last modified: 13 October, 2022, 06:39 pm

Related News

  • AL candidate Ripon wins Gaibandha-5 by-polls
  • Low turnout in Gaibandha-5 by-polls due to cold weather: EC 
  • Gaibandha-5 by-polls ended peacefully: CEC
  • No irregularities will be tolerated this time: EC on Gaibandha-5 by-polls
  • Gaibandha-5 re-election on 4 January

CCTV surveillance has EC suspend questionable Gaibandha by-polls

Wednesday’s dramatic by-election which saw anomalies from the very beginning finally ended up being suspended

TBS Report
12 October, 2022, 10:05 pm
Last modified: 13 October, 2022, 06:39 pm
Representational image. Photo: Collected
Representational image. Photo: Collected

Elections were going on in Gaibandha. The authorities of the Election Commission were observing the polls live, staying at the EC headquarters in Dhaka – over 250 kilometres away from the election centres.

The use of modern technology-based CCTV cameras made it possible and helped the new Election Commission look for evidence of irregularities on its own.

Wednesday's dramatic by-election for the Gaibandha-5 constituency, which saw vote-rigging, eviction of opposition polling agents from centres and other anomalies from the very beginning, finally ended up being suspended.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

"We have been observing the overall elections [in Gaibandha] from our control panel [in Dhaka].  We found that the voting was not being carried out in an orderly fashion and there were irregularities from the very beginning," Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal told reporters after suspending the by-polls.   

"Helping or forcing voters to cast their votes through illegal entry was happening, which is beyond the rules. At many centres, even the CCTV cameras we had installed were disconnected."

"We could all see that the situation had spun way out of control. You [the journalists] could see for yourself that there were people coming in and out of the polling booths," he added.

The CEC said through the live observation of the voting, he suspended polls in 43 centres before 12:30pm, and many others later in several phases.

"We then continued to discuss and analyse the matter with all the members of the commission and realised that closing the polls at certain centres was not going to give a fruitful outcome."

"At one stage, under Section 91 of The Representation of the People Order, 1972, we finally terminated the voting completely," he added.

Although the Habibul Awal-led commission used CCTV cameras, along with electronic voting machines or EVMs in a few local government elections earlier, the use of the technology in the Gaibandha-5 by-polls was the first in a parliamentary election.

A total of 1,242 CCTV cameras were installed at the 145 polling centres  – 88 at Saghata upazila and 57 in Fulchhari upazila.

The constituency, which fell vacant following the death of deputy speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah, has some 339,434 voters from 17 unions.

Meanwhile, all four opposition candidates – HM Golam Shaheed Ranju from Jatiya Party, Jahangir Alam from Bikalpa Dhara, independent candidates Nahiduzzaman Nishad and Mahbubur Rahman – boycotted the by-polls alleging vote rigging and voters being thrown out of the centres, reports our local correspondent.

They announced their withdrawal from the election at a joint press conference around 11am, where they said the followers of Awami League-nominated candidate Mahmud Hasan Ripon were indulging in vote-rigging.

Officials at the Returning Officer's office and local people said this polling was normal until 9am. But after 10 O'clock in the morning, Awami League activists began to occupy different polling centres. They also forced opposition polling agents out of the centres.

"I participated in the election with the apple symbol. Even I could not cast my vote. When I went to vote at the Dahikaran Government Primary School centre my followers were beaten by AL activists. Moreover, they are now planning to sue my men on false allegations," Nahiduzzaman Nishad said while withdrawing his candidacy.

For his part, the Jatiya Party's HM Golam Shaheed Ranju said, "It is actually a farce in the name of election."
Independent candidate Jahangir Alam said, "There is no fair voting in this constituency. Voting cannot be done like this. Each centre is occupied by people of the boat symbol. Our supporters cannot vote. We are under attack."


Our Gaibandha correspondent Khorshed Alam contributed to this report.  
 

Top News

CCTV footage / Gaibandha-5 by-polls

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus meets Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru in Japan on 30 May 2025. Photo: CA Office
    Japan's PM reiterates full support for CA's reform initiatives
  • Two people move furnitures as continuous rain causes waterlog in Dhaka road on Thursday, 29 May 2025. Photo: Collected
    Deep depression weakening, heavy rains to continue across Bangladesh
  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus during a question-answer session at the 30th Nikkei Forum in Tokyo, Japan on Thursday, 29 May 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    Just one particular party wants election in December: CA Yunus

MOST VIEWED

  • Photo: Courtesy
    New notes featuring historic, archaeological structures of Bangladesh to be circulated from 1 June
  • Two Memoranda of Understanding were signed at the seminar titled “Bangladesh Seminar on Human Resources,” in Tokyo on 29 May 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    Japan to recruit 100,000 Bangladeshi workers over next 5 years
  • Representational Photo: Collected
    Country's all jewellery shops to remain indefinitely closed in protest of VP Reponul's arrest: Bajus
  • BAT Bangladesh has to vacate Mohakhali HQ as SC rejects lease appeal
    BAT Bangladesh has to vacate Mohakhali HQ as SC rejects lease appeal
  • Illustration: TBS
    Bangladesh repays $3.5b foreign debt in 10 months of FY25
  • Khondoker Rashed Maqsood. File Photo: Collected
    Investors urge removal of BSEC chairman in meeting with CA’s special assistant, submit list of demands

Related News

  • AL candidate Ripon wins Gaibandha-5 by-polls
  • Low turnout in Gaibandha-5 by-polls due to cold weather: EC 
  • Gaibandha-5 by-polls ended peacefully: CEC
  • No irregularities will be tolerated this time: EC on Gaibandha-5 by-polls
  • Gaibandha-5 re-election on 4 January

Features

Photo collage of the sailors and their catch. Photos: Shahid Sarkar

Between sky and sea: The thrilling life afloat on a fishing ship

1h | Features
For hundreds of small fishermen living near this delicate area, sustainable fishing is a necessity for their survival. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

World Ocean Day: Bangladesh’s ‘Silent Island’ provides a fisheries model for the future

17h | The Big Picture
The university will be OK. But will the US? Photo: Bloomberg

A weaker Harvard is a weaker America

17h | Panorama
The Botanical Garden is a refuge for plant species, both native and exotic. Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS

The hidden cost of 'development' in the Botanical Garden

17h | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Record migrant deaths in 2024

Record migrant deaths in 2024

14h | Podcast
News of The Day, 29 MAY 2025

News of The Day, 29 MAY 2025

16h | TBS News of the day
Businesses set for relief as interim govt eyes major tax & fine cuts

Businesses set for relief as interim govt eyes major tax & fine cuts

19h | TBS Insight
Love is essential for human life

Love is essential for human life

18h | TBS Programs
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net