Awami League nominated candidate Mohammad Ali Arafat today (July 17, 2023) cast his vote at the Gulshan Model School and College centre during the parliamentary by-polls to Dhaka-17 constituency this morning.  He exercised his voting rights around at 10 am, said chief co-ordinator at the office cell of Dhaka -17 by-election, William Proloy Samadder Bappy. Read: Dhaka-17 by-polls: Hero Alam says his agents 'assaulted' by AL activists, determined to remain in the race Arafat told media that there is “no alternative to Awami League.” People will gather at polling centres to cast their votes for boat, he hoped. He was also optimistic that he will win the race. Read: Independent candidate Tariqul Islam Bhuiyan boycotts Dhaka-17 by-polls The voting started at 8 am and will continue till 4 pm without any recess. In the Dhaka-17 constituency, eight candidates are running in the race to be elected a member of the parliament. The seat comprising Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and part of Dhaka Cantonment fell vacant after the death of renowned actor and freedom fighter Akbar Hossain Pathan Farooque on May 14 this year. Read: EC monitoring Dhaka-17 by-polls, elections of 2 municipalities through CCTV cameras The number of voters is 325,205 under 125 polling stations in Dhaka-17 constituency which comprises wards 15, 18, 19 and 20 of Dhaka North City Corporation as well as Dhaka cantonment area.

Dhaka-17 constituency MP candidate, Ashraful Hossain Alam -- better known as "Hero Alam" -- has alleged that his agents are being barred from entering the polling stations and that several of them were harassed by the AL activists and leaders. “The ruling party’s activists have resorted to intimidating tactics to oust my agents. They physically assaulted some of our agents, including women, and barred them from entering the polling centres,” said the independent candidate at Banani Model School centre this morning (July 17, 2023). Independent candidate Tariqul Islam Bhuiyan boycotts Dhaka-17 by-polls Asked in which polling centres his agents faced trouble entering, he mentioned Bhashantek Govt Primary School, Adamji Cantonment College, Matikata High School, and Jamia Madrasa centres. He expressed concern about the fairness of the election. EC monitoring Dhaka-17 by-polls, elections of 2 municipalities through CCTV cameras “However, I’m determined to remain in the electoral race until the end,” he said. Voting for Dhaka-17 by-polls, election in 7 municipalities underway

Voting for the by-election in Dhaka-17 constituency and election in seven municipalities of seven districts are underway today (July 17, 2023). Voting started at 8 am, and it will continue till 4 pm without any break. Voting will be held with the use of traditional ballot papers in the parliamentary by-election, unlike the recent city corporation polls where electronic voting machines were used. Tight security measures have been taken to ensure peaceful voting, authorities said. Read more: EC monitoring Dhaka-17 by-polls, elections of 2 municipalities through CCTV cameras In the Dhaka-17 constituency, eight candidates are running in the race to be elected member of the parliament. The seat comprising Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara and part of Dhaka Cantonment fell vacant after the death of popular actor and freedom fighter Akbar Hossain Pathan Farooque on May 14 this year. The contestants are Mohammad Ali Arafat of Bangladesh Awami League (with boat symbol), Sikder Anisur Rahman of Jatiya Party (plough), independent candidate Ashraful Hossain Alam widely known as "Hero Alam" (monochord), Kazi Rashidul Hasan of Zaker Party (rose), Akter Hossain of Bangladesh Sangskritik Muktijote (cane), independent candidate Tariqul Islam Bhuiyan (truck), Rezaul Karim Swapan of Bangladesh Congress (green coconut) and Sheikh Habibur Rahman of Trinamul BNP (golden fibre). The number of voters is 325,205 under 125 polling stations in the Dhaka-17 constituency, which comprises wards 15,18,19 and 20 of Dhaka North City Corporation as well as Dhaka cantonment area. On June 1, the Election Commission announced the by-election schedule for Dhaka-17 which fell vacant following the death of ruling Awami League MP Akbar Hossain Pathan alias Farooque. Read more: Dhaka-17 parliamentary seat set to go to polls on Monday