Dhaka-5 by-polls: voters few, supporters of ruling party outside polling centres many

The by-election of Dhaka-5 constituency with participation of the two major political parties -- Awami League and BNP -- started at 9:00am today.

Though voters are few and far between, the presence of Awami League activists and their supporters outside the polling centres is strong, reports our staff correspondent.

In Dhalpur Community Centre where eight voting booths are set up for 3,294 voters, only four to five votes were cast in the first one and half hours, said Presiding Officer Syed Md Parvej.

AL activists and candidate's supporters were seen in front of the centre.

On the other hand, Jatrabari Ideal High School and College, another polling centre half a kilometre away from Dhalpur Community Centre, was surrounded by the supporters of AL candidate Kazi Monirul Islam.

The number of voters for this women's centre is 1,877, but most who came to vote were not voters of the centre, the presiding officer said.

Voter number in Madrasa Mohammadia Arabia voting centre is 3,427, but only 3.15 percent of the total votes were cast till 11:00 am.

Similarly, only 80 votes were cast at Kazlarpar High School during the first two hours, whereas the voter number at the centre is 3,537.

In Barnamala Adarsha High School and College voting centre for women in Dania, only 23 votes were cast in six booths till 1:10pm, said Presiding officer Mohammad Issa Miah.

Moreover, in one of the six polling booths in the centre zero votes were cast till that time.

The female voter number of the centre is however, 2,405, the official added.