Lakshmipur-2 by-polls in progress

The by-election to Lakshmipur-2 constituency began this morning.

The seat became vacant since January 28 when Mohammad Shahid Islam, also known as Kazi Papul, was sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment by a Kuwait court.

Voting began around 8am in 136 centres of the constituency through electronic voting machines (EVMs).

Turnout of women voters at Uttar Tumchar Government Primary School centre in the Sadar upazila around 6:45am -- over one hour before voting began -- was noticeable, reports our Noakhali correspondent.

On the other hand, traditional ballot-voting was going on in six union parishad polls in Ramgati and Kamalnagar upazilas.

Incessant rain in the district since morning has increased risk of voters' absence at the centres.

According to locals, Jatiya Party aspirant Sheikh Md Fayij Ulla has little chance to win the by-polls against ruling party aspirant Advocate Noor Uddin Chowdhury Nayan.

According to sources at Election Commission's district office, the Lakshmipur-2 seat includes eight unions of Sadar, 10 of Raypur upazilas and a municipality.

Additional police forces and 10 platoons of BGB under the supervision of 22 magistrates will patrol the constituency during the daylong election.

Members of Rapid Action Battalion-11 have also been deployed in the area.

A total of 4,02,963 voters are supposed to exercise their votes in the by-polls.