The 12th Parliamentary Election started this morning in the midst of a boycott from 16 political parties, including the main opposition BNP.
The voting began at 8:00 am in tight security throughout the country and will continue without interruption until 4:00 pm.
BSS reports that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will vote in the Dhaka City College Centre at 8 am.
Voters eligible to vote for 300 members of parliament include 11,93,33 157 voters — 6,05,92 169 males and 5,87,40 140 females — and Hijra 8,48.
The Election Commission has decided to postpone voting in Naogaon-2 due to the death of Aminul Islamic, an independent candidate.
Voters will be able to cast their votes at 42,024 voting centers in government and non-government institutions throughout the country.
It is expected that Sheikh Hasina will win a record-breaking fourth consecutive term as Prime Minister.
There are 1,969 candidates in total, including 1,532 candidates from 28 parties and 437 Independents.
The candidates are divided into 266 members of the ruling AL and 265 members of the Jatiyo Party.
In the elections, 90 candidates are female, and 79 are from ethnic minorities and other groups.
The EC announced earlier that a sufficient number of law enforcement officers had been deployed throughout the country to ensure voter safety so they could go to the polling stations, exercise their franchise, and return safely to home.
Around 8 lakh law enforcement personnel, including 182,091 police officers and Rapid Action Battalion members (RAB), 1,155 Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), 505,788 Ansar, VDP, and Coast Guard members, have been assigned the task of ensuring security at the elections.
On Wednesday, members of the armed services were deployed to help the local civil administration conduct the general elections in a fair, peaceful, and free manner.
The Army is performing its duties in 62 districts, while the Navy has been deployed to two coastal districts – Bhola and Barguna – and 19 upazilas.
The Air Force also assists in remote areas of the country with helicopters.
The deployment of members of the armed forces and law enforcement agencies will continue until January 10 in order to maintain law and security before, during, and after election day.
Vote at the polling stations: PM
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has today asked the people to vote at the polling stations.
Three minutes after the 12th Parliamentary Election began, the Awami League president spoke after she cast her ballot in Dhaka’s City College.
“We have struggled and suffered a great deal for this right to vote. This election will take place in a fair and free manner. She told journalists that she wanted the people to cooperate. “Vote for boat.
Hasina claimed that her government had created an atmosphere conducive to voting despite all the “obstacles” and “anarchy” created by BNP or Jamaat.
We will form a government with the mandate of the people, and “Boat” will win. “We have the confidence of the people.”
Hasina was accompanied by her daughter Saima at the polls. She voted at 8:03 am.
I don’t have any information about the voter turnout: CEC.
The Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal refused to comment on the voter turnout when he spoke to journalists today outside a voting center in Dhaka’s Shantinagar.
After voting at around 8:30 am, he spoke to the media.
The CEC, however, said that he felt good about the voting beginning in the country.
He said, “I’ll ask you to show the transparency in voting.”
When asked about the low voter turnout, CEC replied, “I do not know.” I am responsible for arranging voting but will not comment on voter turnout at this time.