Voting for the 12th National Parliamentary Election is underway since this morning with reports of low voter turnout and sporadic violence across the country.

UNB correspondents from Dhaka and across the country including Dinajpur, Chattogram, Bhola, Chapainawabganj and Khulna have reported low voter turnout than previously expected.

Also read: Election 2024: Voter turnout relatively higher in rural areas compared to Dhaka, says Foreign Secretary

While visiting the Gulshan Model School and College center in Gulshan-2 area of Dhaka, a UNB correspondent reported that only 35 out of the 13,000 registered voters had cast their votes in the first three hours till 11 am.

However, after 10 am, there were sudden queues for 5 to 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, only 50 votes were cast at the Udayan School centre in Dhaka-8 constituency (Ramna-Motijheel) in the first two hours of balloting, said presiding officer Liton Das.

“Voting is proceeding smoothly,” said Das.

Also read: Election 2024: ‘I don’t think about voter turnout, my job is to arrange elections’, says CEC

According to data from the Election Management apps, only 8% of votes were cast within the first four hours of balloting across three centers in the Dhaka-8 constituency.

Meanwhile, 50 voters — out of 898 — cast their votes in two booths of Tejgaon Adarsha School & College in Dhaka-12 constituency in the four and a half hours of voting.

The situation at Uttara High School and Collage in Dhaka-18 was also similar.

Tofazzal Hossain, presiding officer of the polling centre, said under centre-3 which is designated for male voters, the number of total registered voters is 2158 but only 120 votes have been cast till the filing of this report around 12 pm.

However, voter turnout started seeing an increase in centers under Dhaka-16 constituency. 

Low voter turnout was also observed outside the capital in the first four hours of voting.

Also read: People boycotting those who boycotted election: Obaidul Quader

Until 10 am, there was notably low voter presence at polling centres in Dinajpur. The election officials expressed optimism that voter turnout will improve once the effects of fog and cold weather diminishes.

Meanwhile, supporters of candidates have congregated in front of the centers, shouting slogans.

Lower-than-expected voter turnout was also observed in Cumilla, Bagerhat, Barishal and Habiganj in the first half ofElection Day.

One killed amidst reports of sporadic violence across the country

Sporadic violence was reported all over the country as the 12th National Parliamentary Election is underway.

A supporter of the Awami League candidate was stabbed to death allegedly by supporters of the independent candidate at Tengor in Mirkadim of Munshiganj’s Sadar upazila this morning.

Violence was reported in multiple places in Chattogram.

Also read: Ballot boxes stuffed at night even in lopsided polls: Rizvi

In Chattogram-10 constituency, two people were shot in a clash between supporters of Awami League candidate and independent candidate at Kalshi-Pahartali area.

Meanwhile, a clash broke out between police and BNP activists in the Chandgaon area of Chattogram city this morning after leaders and activists of the opposition party tried to bar voters from casting their votes.

Crude bomb explosion was reported at a polling centre in Jashore an hour before voting began that injured a member of Bangladesh Ansar.

Clashes were reported in Barishal-5 constituency as well.

In Barisal-5 (Sadar) constituency, independent candidate Salahuddin Ripon accused supporters of the Awami League candidate of attacking his supporters, driving out agents from the center and obstructing voting.

Alleged irregularities

Voting at a polling centre in Narsingdi-4 constituency (Monohardi-Belabo) has been cancelled due to allegations of irregularities.

District Returning Officer Dr Badiul Alam said the voting was cancelled due to allegations of ballot-stuffing.

Allegations of ballot-stuffing were reported in Cumilla-4 (Debidwar) as supporters of Awami League were accused of stamping the boat symbol on ballot papers.

In a video on social media that has gone viral, numerous pages of the ballot book show the boat symbol.

Assistant presiding officers and officials present during the incident mentioned that some individuals arrived, forcibly stamped the “boat” symbol, and left.

Meanwhile, two candidates in Mymensingh’s Gafargaon constituency and one candidate of Jatiya Party in Narsingdi-2 have boycotted the election alleging irregularities.

Also read: Knowing they will lose, BNP didn’t participate in the election: Home Minister

Two independent candidates in Mymensingh’s Gafargaon constituency announced to boycott the election alleging vote rigging and irregularities.

Independent candidate Abul Hossain Dipu with eagle symbol and truck symbol candidate Kaiser Ahmed said they boycotted the voting as the polling agents of most of the polling centres in 15 unions and municipal areas of the upazila were forced out of the polling centers.

Meanwhile, Rakiqul Alam Selim, the Jatiya Party candidate for the Narsingdi-2 constituency, has withdrawn from the election, citing irregularities.

Voting for the 12th parliamentary election began this morning with the ruling Awami League set for a historic fourth consecutive term amid an opposition boycott.

Voting began at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm without any break amid tight security in 299 out of the country’s 300 constituencies.