The High Court has directed authorities to provide security to the presiding officer, who was present when the local superintendent of police (SP) misbehaved with the senior judicial magistrate during the Bheramara municipal elections in Kushtia.

A High Court bench of Justices M Enayetur Rahim and Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman passed the order on Thursday.

Deputy Attorney General Mohammad Sarwar Hossain represented the state in the court.

According to Hossain, the presiding officer alleged that some individuals had forced him to sign some documents on Wednesday.

The state lawyer said the presiding officer sought security, at which point, the court directed the Inspector General of Police to provide security to the officer and his family with till January 25.

The complainant is local upazila youth development officer Mohammad Shahjahan Ali.

Kushtia's SP SM Tanvir Arafat has been asked to appear in the High Court on January 25 to explain the matter.

The Bheramara election was held on 16 January. Kushtia's Senior Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Mohsin Hasan lodged a complaint with the Election Commission the next day.

A copy of the complaint was also presented to the Registrar General of the Supreme Court.