October 19, 2022
DHAKA – A video of a woman asking for her money back from a voter after losing the post of reserved women member under Baufal-Dashmina upazila in Patuakhali Zilla Parishad elections has gone viral on social media.
The defeated candidate, Rubina Akhter, went to Bakultola area of Baufal upazila around 10pm yesterday (October 17, 2022) after losing the polls and asked a UP member, who was allegedly supposed to vote for her to refund her money.
UP members are designated to cast their votes to elect candidates for the reserved seat.
The voting for Patuakhali Zilla Parishad was held from 9:00am to 2:00pm yesterday.
Kamrun Nahar, Pashari Rani, Fatema Alam and Rubina Akhter took part in the election for the post of reserved member seat for women in Baufal-Dasmina upazila. Kamrun Nahar won the election with 146 votes, and her nearest rival candidate Pashari Rani got 120 votes. On the other hand, Rubina Akhter got 36 votes, and Fatema Alam did not get any.
In the viral video, Rubina Akhter can be heard saying, “I have given Tk 2,000 to the voters [UP members] according to my ability. They assured me when they took the money that they would vote for me. But many of them didn’t vote for me. Many of those who didn’t vote returned the money to me. But this member [UP member] is not returning the money, instead he is insulting me.”
The UP member whose name was not mentioned could not be seen in the video.
A voter, wishing anonymity, said, “Lakhs of taka have been transacted surrounding the zilla parishad elections. And this candidate gave Tk 2,000. How will she get votes?”
Rubina Akhter refused to comment on the matter when The Daily Star called her on her phone.
In this regard, Baufal Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Md Al Amin said, “Any kind of financial transaction in the election is illegal. If someone gives a written complaint in this regard. Then legal action will be taken against the person.”