An imam in Hesakhal area of Nangalkot upazila, Cumilla, was allegedly dismissed from his position for serving as a polling agent of the Jamaat-e-Islami-supported candidate symbol during the February 12 national election. Hafiz Md. Abdul Alim Bhuiyan, 58, who had served at the Hesakhal Khamar Para Majumdar Bari Jame Mosque for about five years, was reportedly removed last Friday by Jahangir Alam Majumdar, president of the Upazila Shaheed Zia Smriti Sangsad and a resident of the same village.

Local sources said Jahangir Alam acted without formal authority in the mosque committee, allegedly using political influence to remove the imam. The mosque committee’s general secretary, Mozaffar Hossain Selim, resigned in protest. Abdul Alim told reporters he was dismissed for acting as an agent of the “Dhalapalla” symbol and appealed for justice to the local MP and the prime minister. Jahangir Alam could not be reached for comment despite repeated calls.

Local Jamaat leaders confirmed the incident and urged reinstatement of the imam, while the party’s candidate for Cumilla-10 constituency criticized the action as undemocratic. The incident has stirred local tension, with residents hoping for a negotiated resolution.