Lakshmipur: Police have filed a case against two people, including a Jamaat-e-Islami leader, after seizing six illegally made ballot seals in Lakshmipur. The accused are Sourav Hossain Sharif, secretary of Jamaat’s Ward No. 4 unit of Lakshmipur municipality, and businessman Sohel Rana.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Sohel Rana, the son of Khorshed Alam from Tumchar village in Sadar upazila, was arrested on Wednesday afternoon and sent to court. Additional Superintendent of Police (Administration and Finance) Hosain Mohammad Raihan Kazemi confirmed the arrest. The case was filed by Sub-Inspector Humayun Kabir of Lakshmipur Sadar Police Station, naming both individuals as accused.
Police reported that Sohel Rana owns Mariam Printers on Old Court Road in the district town. Acting on a tip-off, authorities raided his shop on Tuesday afternoon and seized six ballot seals with 16 boxes each, along with a computer and a mobile phone. Sohel was detained and taken to the police station for further questioning.
Based on statements and evidence, including WhatsApp conversations and voice messages, Jamaat leader Sourav Hossain Sharif was implicated in the case. Police stated that the seals were prepared by Sohel on Sharif’s order.
Following the seizure, BNP and Jamaat held separate press conferences, blaming each other for the incident. BNP Joint Secretary General and candidate for Lakshmipur-3 (Sadar) constituency, Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, claimed Jamaat’s involvement and alleged that Sohel was a Jamaat activist. Conversely, Jamaat’s candidate for the same constituency, Rezaul Karim, denied any association between Sohel and Jamaat.
In response to the incident, Lakshmipur district Jamaat Ameer Ruhul Amin Bhuiyan announced that Sharif had been expelled from the party, and a press release regarding the expulsion would be issued.