Tasnim Jara alleges obstruction of polling agents in Dhaka-9

Independent candidate for Dhaka-9 constituency Tasnim Jara on Thursday alleged that her polling agents were obstructed at several voting centres, claiming many were denied entry or removed on what she described as “baseless and fabricated” grounds.

Speaking to reporters at the Khilgaon Model College Polling Centre, Jara said her representatives were being prevented from carrying out their duties under excuses that she argued had no legal basis.

“My polling agents are either being stopped from entering centres or being forced to leave using various made-up justifications,” she said. “Some are being told they are not voters of the constituency, even though there is no rule that requires a polling agent to be a voter of that particular seat.”

She also alleged that female polling agents were barred from entering certain male-designated polling centres, calling the move inconsistent with electoral regulations.

According to Jara, officials were also citing restrictions on mobile phones as grounds for expelling her agents.

“The rule states that phones cannot be used inside polling centres, but they may be carried. However, this excuse is being used to push our agents out while voting continues,” she said.

Describing the situation as unacceptable, Jara questioned how the electoral process could be deemed fair if candidates’ representatives were not allowed to observe proceedings.

“When I ask which specific rule they are applying, no one can clearly answer,” she said, adding that she had to personally intervene in at least one instance. “As a candidate, I cannot keep rushing from centre to centre to challenge arbitrary decisions.”

She further alleged a lack of accountability among polling officials, claiming that when questioned about who ordered the removal of her agents, they declined to identify any authority.

Jara said she had received similar complaints from multiple centres across the constituency.

She is contesting the Dhaka-9 seat as an independent candidate in a race that includes BNP nominee Habibur Rashid.

The constituency has 4,69,360 registered voters and 12 candidates competing in the election.