Vote Seal Scandal in Lakshmipur: Case Filed Against Two, Including Jamaat Leader

A criminal case has been filed in Lakshmipur following the recovery of six allegedly illegal ballot seals, with two individuals—including a local Jamaat-e-Islami leader—named as accused. The case was lodged late on Tuesday night by Sub-Inspector Humayun Kabir of Lakshmipur Sadar Police Station, who is acting as the complainant.

According to police sources, the principal accused is businessman Sohel Rana (40), a resident of Tumchar Union in Lakshmipur Sadar Upazila and proprietor of Maryam Press, located on Old Court Road in the town. Police arrested Sohel Rana on Tuesday afternoon after conducting a raid at his printing establishment. During the operation, officers seized six ballot seals suspected to be intended for electoral use, along with a computer and a mobile phone.

The second accused named in the case is Sourav Hossain alias Sharif (34), son of Mohammad Shahjahan of Ward No. 4 under Lakshmipur Municipality. He currently serves as the secretary of the ward-level Jamaat-e-Islami unit. While he has not yet been arrested, police say he is currently unreachable, with his mobile phone switched off since the incident came to light.

Police investigations suggest that Sourav Hossain placed the order for the six ballot seals at Sohel Rana’s press. Preliminary findings also indicate that Sourav has multiple photographs with the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate contesting from the Lakshmipur-3 (Sadar) parliamentary constituency. Investigators are examining these photographs, along with the seized equipment, to determine the purpose behind the production of the seals and whether they were linked to any broader plan to influence the electoral process.

However, Jamaat-e-Islami leaders have rejected the allegations. Lakshmipur Municipal Jamaat Secretary Harun Or Rashid claimed that Sourav Hossain had been “deliberately framed” as part of a conspiracy. He insisted that the party was being unfairly targeted without conclusive evidence.

Political tensions intensified later that evening. At around 8:30 pm, Shaheed Uddin Chowdhury Annie, the BNP-backed candidate for Lakshmipur-3, held a press conference at his main election office. Expressing grave concern, he alleged that the arrested printer was associated with Jamaat-e-Islami and argued that the recovery of seals and a computer suggested a sophisticated attempt at “election engineering”. He called for a thorough investigation to determine whether any candidate or political leader had instigated the operation and demanded exemplary punishment for those responsible. Annie also warned that the seals might not be the only items produced, raising fears that ballot papers themselves could be forged, and urged the administration to remain vigilant.

In response, Jamaat-e-Islami convened its own press conference at Lakshmipur Press Club at around 10:00 pm the same night. The party’s Lakshmipur-3 candidate, Rezaul Karim, accused the BNP of spreading misinformation by attempting to link Jamaat to the incident. He asserted that Sohel Rana was not a Jamaat member and condemned the incident as “heinous”, while expressing confidence that the authorities would identify the real culprits through proper investigation.

A senior police official confirmed that the matter is being treated with utmost seriousness. Investigators are currently exploring two key possibilities: whether the seals were produced for training or mock voting purposes, or whether they were intended for misuse on polling day to facilitate ballot manipulation.

Confirming the arrest, Officer-in-Charge Wahed Parvez of Lakshmipur Sadar Model Police Station stated that Sohel Rana admitted during initial interrogation that he had begun producing the seals after receiving an order. Based on his statement, police believe the order was placed by Sourav Hossain. The OC added that the investigation is ongoing to establish the true motive and to identify whether any additional individuals were involved.

Key Details of the Case

The unfolding investigation has heightened political tensions in the constituency, underscoring broader concerns over electoral integrity ahead of the polls.