Hero Alom challenges the EC

“Hero Alom’s allegation of tampering with the result is without merit, and the by-election result in that constituency is 100 percent accurate,” said Election Commissioner Rashida Sultana, whose statement is now being challenged by the controversial independent candidate Ashraful Alom alias Hero Alom.

He issued this challenge while visiting several parts of Kahalu upazila in the Bogura-4 constituency on Friday (February 3) afternoon, two days after by-elections were held in the two Bogura constituencies.

“Conduct a referendum between Hero Alom and Tansen” (the winning candidate Rezaul Karim Tansen). I will demonstrate whether or not the people voted for me and whether or not they manipulated the results.” Hero Alom challenged the Election Commissioner.

“Install CCTV cameras in every voting station and allow all election commissioners to monitor the elections. I challenge you: if I lose the referendum, I will never again run for office or consider elections,” he stressed.

“I want the referendum to be on the ballot papers. Because EVMs are rigged. And they defeated me through result manipulation. I have been visiting every center in Kahalu upazila. Voters cannot accept my defeat. I have been wronged, they say.” he added.

He informed the reporters that he will file a writ in court within the next two or three days.

Awami League-led 14-party alliance candidate Jasad leader Rezaul Karim Tansen won in the Bogura-4 (Kahalu and Nandigram) constituency last Wednesday. He got 20,405 votes with the torch symbol. His nearest rival, Hero Alom, got 19,571 votes in the Monochord symbol. He lost by a margin of 834 votes.