Polls officials find no assault on journalists

Presiding officers noticed no assaults on journalists on the Dhaka city corporation polls day, although such incidents at 30 centres were reported by different media outlets.

They made their submission yesterday before a probe committee headed by Anisur Rahman, an additional divisional commissioner of Dhaka, during a hearing on the incidents.

"All the presiding officers claimed they did not notice any incident of assault on journalists at the polling centres," said an official who attended the hearing.

The presiding officers said the assaults might have been carried out outside the polling stations when they were asked about the media reports on the assault, added the official who wished not to be named.

On May 5, the Election Commission formed two committees to probe the assaults during the polling day on April 28.

 Headed by additional divisional commissioners of Dhaka and Chittagong, each of the three-member committees was asked to submit their reports to the EC within a month. The other members of the committees are senior officials of police and the EC secretariat.

As part of investigation, the EC around a week ago directed the presiding officers of the 30 centres to attend yesterday's hearing at the office of additional divisional commissioner.

Of the 30 polling centres, 22 were in Dhaka South City Corporation and the rest in Dhaka North City Corporation.

Kamal Uddin Ahmed, presiding officer of Hazrat Shah Ali Girls School and College polling centre, said, "I have explained my findings there [office of additional divisional commissioner]. I can not say anything to the media."

Talking to The Daily Star, Mahbubur Rahman, presiding officer of Jamia Mohammadia Islamia Karail T&T Colony Madrasa, said, "I was busy with my work during the voting. I did not see any journalist being assaulted or get any information on the matter.”

Mustafizur Rahman, presiding officer of Dhaka Badhir High School in Bijoynagar, said, "As far as I know, no incident of assault [on journalists] took place in my centre. Besides, no journalist filed any complaint to me."

Apart from the presiding officers, the EC has asked police authorities to send the policemen, who were on duty at the 30 polling centres, to the office of the additional divisional commissioner on May 20 for making their submission.

Besides, journalists and election observers will also get the opportunity for making their submission, said Abdul Wadud, a deputy secretary of the EC Secretariat.

At least 10 journalists were assaulted by ruling Awami League men during the polling hours on April 28. Some reporters were robbed of cash, mobile phones and handbags, according to media reports.

Law enforcers, polling officials and AL men reportedly prevented newsmen from entering polling centres.