The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

Police arrested 98 persons in 11 districts on charges of trying to influence voters during the national election, according to a police report yesterday.

According PID handout 19 grand alliance members were arrested in seven districts for 'distributing money for votes', while several of the four-party alliance and polling officers were arrested for violating the electoral code of conduct.

According to police, 23 persons were picked up for distributing money and goods from Sunday midnight until yesterday in Chittagong, Noakhali, Moulvibazar, Kurigram, Satkhira, Netrokona and Pabna.

Police seized Tk 41 lakh from a car owned by a relative of a four-party candidate in Chittagong on the eve of election day.

Debidwar police picked up former BNP lawmaker Manzurul Ahsan Munshi on Monday evening at Mohonpur polling station in Comilla-4 constituency for violating the electoral code.

Satkhira police arrested a presiding officer and an election observer from Rupantor, an NGO, on charges of influencing a visually impaired voter.

Saidul Islam Milon, municipality councillor of Lalmohonpur, Bhola, was arrested for breaching discipline in a polling centre.

Police arrested a woman from Kalyanpur Girls' High School in city for trying to give a false vote.

Meanwhile, two polling officers were withdrawn from Kalia upazilla, Narail on charges of trying to campaign for a candidate.

An assistant presiding officer in Bagerhat was withdrawn as he allegedly compelled a disabled candidate to vote against his will.

Presiding officer Mahbubul Islam was also withdrawn and later taken into police custody for dereliction of duty at the Taluk Zamira Govt High School polling centre in Polashbari, Gaibandha.