Dhaka-17 by-polls: Voter turnout low, No untoward incident reported so far

Ministry of Public Administration has announced a general holiday along with restrictions on vehicular movement during the by-election in some parts of Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, and Cantonment areas

Voter turnout has been low as voting started for the Dhaka-17 by-election at 8am today using ballots. Voting will continue till 4pm on Monday (17 July).

Only 105 votes were cast in the four centres under Government Homeopathic Medical College in the first hour since the polls began, said the presiding officers of respective centres.

Photo: TBS

Presiding Officer Sikandar Azam said, “This is a women’s centre, they have to cook. that is why voter presence is low. We hope that voter presence will increase as the day progresses.”Dhaka-17 by polls: A ‘hero’ for a hero, or a professor instead?

In the first three hours since voting began, a total of 123 votes were cast out of the 3,021 in centre no 13. In centre no 15, 122 votes were cast while the total number of voters under the centre is 2,085.

The Election Commission (EC) is monitoring the by-polls through CCTV from the central control room set up in the EC building. EC monitoring Dhaka-17 by-polls, elections of 2 municipalities through CCTV cameras

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibur Awal, Election Commissioner Brigadier General Retired Ahsan Habib Khan, Election Commissioner Rasheda Sultana, Election Commissioner Md Anichur Rahman, Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath, NID Director General AKM Humayun Kabir and IDEA-2 Project Director. Brigadier General Abul Hasnat Md Sayem are monitoring the election from the control room.

The by-polls are being monitored through 853 cameras.

No untoward incident has been reported in the election so far.

“The atmosphere is good. There is no rush, no lines. I cast my vote in a very short time. Also, I am excited as this is my first-time voting,” said a voter named Sorna Akhter.

Another voter Tasnuva Sinin, said, “The overall atmosphere is good but there are so many restrictions inside. Mobile phone is not allowed. But there was no problem in casting vote.”

Photo: TBS

Awami League candidate Professor Mohammad A Arafat cast his vote at Gulshan Model High School and College centre at around 11am.

Meanwhile, one of the candidates, Ashraful Hossen Alam (Hero Alam) said he is hopeful about victory if the by-election is fair.

“I will win if there is a fair vote. People want me. I want to work with people,” he said visiting Banani Model School centre around 10:30am.

Alleging that his agents are being expelled from the polling stations, Hero Alam said, “I have appointed 600 agents for the election. But my agents have been forced out of 12 centres. We have been calling the Election Commission since morning. But not getting any help.”

EC and Dhaka Metropolitan Police authorities said that they had made all security arrangements for holding free and fair elections.

Photo: TBS

The movement of vehicles such as trucks, buses, minibuses, microbuses, jeeps, pickups, cars, and easy-bikes has been restricted in selective areas from 12:00am Monday (17 July) to 12:00am on Tuesday (18 July). Motorbike movement has been restricted in the areas from 12am on 16 July to 12am on 18 July.

Photo: TBS

Dhaka-17 constituency became vacant following the death of Awami League lawmaker Akbar Hossain Pathan Farooque.

Photo: TBS

The contestants are Mohammad Ali Arafat of Bangladesh Awami League (boat), Sikder Anisur Rahman of Jatiya Party (plough), independent candidate Ashraful Hossen Alam (monochord), Kazi Rashidul Hasan of Zaker Party (rose), Akter Hossain of Bangladesh Sangskritik Muktijote (cane), independent candidate Tariqul Islam Bhuiyan (truck), Rezaul Karim Swapan of Bangladesh Congress (green coconut) and Sheikh Habibur Rahman of Trinamul BNP (golden fibre).