Election official seeks action against Rumeen Farhana over 'mob' allegation
"The matter now lies with the court," the election official said.
An assistant returning officer has sought action against Brahmanbaria-2 independent candidate and expelled BNP leader Barrister Rumeen Farhana, accusing her of violating the electoral code of conduct and creating a "mob" while misbehaving with an executive magistrate of a mobile court in Brahmanbaria.
Confirming the matter to The Business Standard, Assistant Returning Officer and Sarail Upazila Nirbahi Officer Md Abubakor Sarkar said he has sent a letter to the Election Inquiry and Judicial Committee and Senior Civil Judge Ashraful Islam yesterday (17 January), citing "mob" allegations.
The letter states that Rumeen Farhana had organised a large gathering with a pandal in the Islamabad (Gogad) area of Noagaon union under Sarail upazila, which violated the electoral code of conduct. The mobile court immediately dispersed the rally and fined Rumeen's supporter Jewel Mia Tk40,000.
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At the time, Rumeen allegedly made threats to the Executive Magistrate Shahria Hasan Khan, while aggressively showing her thumb.
The letter further alleges that Jewel Mia and others accompanying Rumeen behaved aggressively, creating a mob that obstructed judicial proceedings and threatened the magistrate, constituting a clear violation of electoral rules.
A link to the video circulating on social media was also included in the letter.
"The matter now lies with the court," the assistant returning officer said.
Earlier, yesterday afternoon, a mobile court shut down Rumeen Farhana's campaign rally in the Islamabad area for breaching electoral rules and fined one of her supporters Tk40,000. Angered by the move, Rumeen Farhana engaged in an argument with Executive Magistrate Shahria Hasan Khan.
A video of the incident later spread on Facebook, sparking widespread criticism.
