Journalists covering the Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (Jucsu) polls today faced difficulties entering several women's polling centres, as security guards restricted access despite rules permitting media presence.
Between 9:00am and 10:00am, this correspondent visited five polling centres, but access was denied at four of them.
According to Jucsu election regulations, "Only electoral officers, staff, Election Commission-approved persons (including journalists), and voters are allowed to enter polling centres."
At 9:22am, eight to nine journalists were seen waiting outside the Fazilatunnesa Hall polling centre after being refused entry.
Security guard Mohammad Yasin said, "Only photojournalists are allowed in this centre. No reporters are allowed to enter. This is the rule. Once one journalist leaves, another can go in."
Earlier at 9:11am, a journalist attempting to enter the Bir Protik Taramon Bibi Hall polling centre was also stopped.
Security guard Kamrul Molla claimed, "Entry is not allowed right now. The returning officer has not given the permission."
At Rokeya Hall, journalists waited from 9:13am to 9:21am without receiving any clear response from security guards. Entry was still not allowed as of 9:30am.
Similarly, at Pritilata Hall around 9:32am, security guards at the main gate said, "Some journalists are already inside. They will leave, and then others can enter."
When asked about the restrictions, Chief Election Commissioner Md Maniruzzaman acknowledged the issue.
"Such an incident should not happen. I have already instructed returning officers to allow journalists to enter. We are encouraging female journalists, but even then, I have asked that all reporters covering the women's voting centres be given access," he said.
Earlier this morning, Returning Officer Nasreen Khatun at Jahanara Imam Hall said, for security reasons, only two journalists were permitted inside the women's hall at a time.
FP/MI
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