Dhaka 17 by-polls: Hero Alom appeals to EC for re-vote alleging rigged election
“It was not a fair election. There was vote rigging in the by-polls,” he told journalists after submitting a written application to the EC on Sunday
Content creator Ashraful Alom, popularly known as Hero Alom, who was a candidate in the Dhaka-17 by-polls, appealed to the Election Commission (EC) for a re-vote alleging irregularities and vote rigging.
"It was not a fair election. There was vote rigging in the by-polls," he told journalists after submitting a written application to the EC on Sunday.
"I have video footage of 12 to 13-year-olds voting. A girl was seen casting 10-15 votes. These votes are collected and sent to the polling stations. I have submitted that video footage to the chief election commissioner. I want cancellation of the election outcome and applied for re-vote," Alom said.
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Hero Alom, who lost the Dhaka-17 by-polls to Awami League nominated Mohammad A Arafat, came under attack around 3:00 pm on the day of the election (17 July) after he visited the polling centre at Banani's Bidyaniketan School and College grounds.
Requesting everyone to watch the video footage, Hero Alom said, "I humbly request the Cabinet and the Speaker of the Parliament not to swear in Mohammad A Arafat. Everything depends on the evidence. Please watch the video footage."
"The returning officer told me to write to the chief election commissioner. That is why I appealed. I look forward to hearing of this appeal," said the content creator.
Regarding the lack of police protection at the time of the attack, Hero Alom said, "They [police] did not give me security. When I ran into the BGB car urging them to save my life, no one came forward."
Claiming that there is no fair election in this country, Hero Alom said, "I participated in three elections under the Awami League government. I came under attack every time."
Several people were arrested in a case filed over the attack on Hero Alom so far.
Western countries have condemned the assault.
"We condemn the 17 July attack on Dhaka-17 constituency candidate Ashraful Alom," said high commissioners and ambassadors of the United Kingdom, United States, the delegation of the European Union, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, in a joint statement on 18 July.
Everyone involved in the upcoming elections should ensure that they are free, fair, and peaceful, reads the statement.
Along with a flurry of condemnations from local bodies, the United Nations has also expressed concern over the attack on Hero Alom.
