The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Awami League yesterday alleged that Amar Desh Publications Chairman and former Energy Adviser Mahmudur Rahman in connivance with a deputy secretary of BG Press have trained up some 100 people on making fake ballot papers to use those in Monday's polls.

Awami League further alleged that members of some banned militant outfits, including JMB, Harkatul Jihad and Hijbut Tahrir, are now conducting election campaign for the BNP-Jamaat candidates. "We've come to know that Mahmudur Rahman and a deputy secretary of BG (Bangladesh Government) Press who also acted as the personal secretary to Jamaat secretary Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid and two former IGPs have trained up some 100 workers of BNP-Jamaat on making fake ballot papers and techniques of vote rigging," AL Election Steering Committee cochairman HT Imam said.

Addressing a press conference at the AL Media Centre in the afternoon, HT Imam said the Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) of Lalmonirhat Sadar has already been withdrawn for his alleged involvement in the process of vote rigging.

Awami League president Sheikh Hasina's press secretary Abul Kalam Azad were, among others, present at the press conference.

He said the "vested quarter" has collected samples of ballot papers from the government-controlled press to make the election engineering.

HT Imam also alleged that efforts are on to hide the news and information about making fake ballot papers. "We're urging the Election Commission to take immediate actions against those involved in the election engineering," he said.

HT Imam, however, could not say the name of the deputy secretary, former IGPs and the place and time of giving the training for making false ballot papers.

About the involvement of militants in the electioneering for the 4-party alliance, he said the outlaws are mainly working in the constituencies where Jamaat candidates are contesting in the polls.

"You (journalists) know that former Ameer of Habiganj district Jamaat Maulana Saidur Rahman has become the new boss of Jam'atul Mujaheedin Bangladesh (JMB). He is operating the JMB men from a secret place to intimidate the religious and ethnic minorities ahead of the polls," he said.

The eight militants arrested in Gaibandha have already confessed that they were working to influence the polls in favor of the 4-Party alliance, HT Imam said.

He reiterated their allegation that a group of former bureaucrats is on the fields and they are putting pressure on the returning officers, assistant returning officers and police officers and alluring them to work for the 4-party coalition.

Imam again asked the Election Commission to exclude Democracy Watch, Adhiker and Khan Foundation from the list of election observes for their biased records.

He requested the foreign election observers to keep sharp eyes especially on the country's remote and impoverished areas, and the areas where ethnic and religious minorities are living in good number.

Imam informed the journalists that minorities in Khulna, Narail, Bagerhat and Bhola districts are being intimidated not to vote for 'Boat', the election symbol of Awami League.

He also alleged that the 4-party alliance candidates in Chittagong-8, Sylhet-5, Patuakhali-2, Sherpur-2, Satkhira-1 and Satkhira-2 are using arms and money to influence the voters.

Imam said the Election Commission has been informed about all the incidents of the code of conduct violation and the EC is taking necessary steps following the allegations.