Dhaka-18 by-polls: voting ends with low turnout

The by-polls to Dhaka-18 constituency has ended with an overall low turnover of voters. Only 274 votes had been cast at two polling centers in Starlit School of English over four hours. The by-election started around 8:00am. The total number of voters at the centres are 4,861.

Supporters and agents of ruling Awami League candidate Mohammad Habib Hasan were seen gathering in groups outside the centres on road-9 in the capital's Nikunja-2.

No agents of rival parties were seen at the polling booths, says our correspondent while visiting the spot.

Presiding Officer Atiul Hoque said they asked agents of the rival parties to be present before the beginning of vote casting. "But no one appeared," he said. The presiding officer also said most voters in the areas are service holders and non-permanent residents.

"Many of them (voters) are out of the locality for their jobs, which may be a reason for the low turnout," he said.

At Baunia Abdul Jalil High School polling centre, out of 2,658 female voters, only 350 votes were cast till 1:00pm. While covering the by-polls, our staff correspondent found AL supporters crowding at the centre and trying to influence the voters around 1:00pm.

Presiding Officer Mohammad Shahadat Hossain said he was not aware of the matter.

The presiding officer asked agents not to enter polling booths and he later instructed polling officers to help voters if they need.

At the Government Primary School polling centre, a poling agent was seen holding the hand of a voter and trying to influence him to vote through EVM machine at a hidden booth.

When asked, Presiding Officer Mir Anisur Rahman said it is not possible to patrol all the time. "I've given instructions not to allow anyone except voters at the hidden booth," he added.