Two election officials detained for 'dining at Jamaat leader’s house' in Lakshmipur

Two election officials were detained in Lakshmipur on Wednesday night after they allegedly left their polling centre and went to have dinner at the residence of a local Jamaat leader.

The incident took place at Nolthogi Madinatul Ulum Islamia Madrasa polling centre under the Lakshmipur-3 (Sadar) constituency, where the officials were on duty.

The detainees are Assistant Presiding Officer M A Osmani and Polling Officer Md Iqbal Hossain. Osmani is a teacher at Gandharbapur Government Primary School, while Iqbal teaches at South Tumchar Government Primary School.

They were later taken into custody by Chandraganj Police Station under Sadar upazila.

Confirming the matter, Lakshmipur Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Hosain Mohammad Raihan Kazemi said the two officials are currently in police custody.

According to district police sources, Osmani and Iqbal left the polling centre at night and went to the house of a local Jamaat leader for dinner. Acting on a tip-off, the executive magistrate on duty, Kathoyai Pru Marma, detained them. They have been accused of negligence in performing official duties.

In the Lakshmipur-3 constituency, six candidates are contesting the polls, including BNP candidate Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie and Jamaat candidate Rezaul Karim.