Voters were allegedly barred to take mobile phones and polling agents were denied access for silly issues at Purba Jurain Adarsha High School at Chairman Bari Road in Jurain in Dhaka city.

Sagor Islam, agent of independent candidate Mizanur Rahman, Dhaka-4, alleged that police officials did not allow mobile phones of voters and it discouraged voters to enter polling centres.

‘I showed them a published media reports that Election Commission has allowed mobile phones for voters but police did not allow voters to take their phones with them,’ he added.

He also alleged that the presiding officer did not allow a polling agent for writing his name and other details by using pen.

Tanzir Ahmed, sergeant, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Wari Division said that it was a decision of the presiding officer.

Asked about the allegations, presiding officer Sanjit Kumar Podder said that it was a false allegation as they did not allow voters to take mobile phone to the booths.

‘They can keep the mobile phones outside or to the polling agents before going to the booth,’ he said.

Denying the allegations of not allowing polling agents, he said that it did not matter whether he wrote using pen or pencil.

‘The polling agent was late and did not bring photos. We are now allowing him as he brought a photo of him,’ the presiding officer said.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance candiadte is Tanvir Ahmed and 11-party candidate alliance candidate is Syed Joynul Abedin, among the eight candidates, are contesting the polls from the constituency.