Most of the new voters have expressed whole hearted satisfaction after excercising their maiden democratic rights in the 12th parliamentary election in different areas of the country.
Bangladesh Post correspondent visited six polling centers of the two constituencies – Manikganj-3 and Dhaka-20, where voting ended peacefully without any violence.
However, in Pabraib Government Primary School center and in Prottasha Adarsha High School, supporters of the Awami League backed candidate Benazir Ahmad and independent candidate Mohaddes Hossain were about to engage in clashes. But due to the quick intervention of the law enforcing agencies and senior ruling party leaders, there was no election violence.
Sojib Hossain Ariyan, son of
Abdur Rahman, hailing from Basat village under Saturia Upazila of Manikganj district, spoke after casting his vote, to this correspondent with a smiling face.
“I woke up early in the morning to be the first voter in the Basat Government Primary School center. I reached the polling center at 7:50 am.”
But I saw four voters standing before me in the small lines. That is why I could not be the first voter despite my long desire to be,” he said in a sad tone.
Delowar Hossain, son of Yar Uddin, works as machine operator in the Acme Pharmaceuticals at Dhamrai, cast his vote for the first time.
He said, “Our office declared a holiday marking the 12th Parliamentary election. Getting the holiday, I left Dhamrai on Saturday night.”
I faced severe troubles as there was a heavy shortage of transports on the highway. I waited hours for getting transport on Saturday night. Finally, I managed it. However, transport workers charged extra, taking advantage of the transport crisis on the road.”
But all my suffering ended in a second after I successfully cast my vote without any troubles, he said in a highly festive mood.
Sadia Sultana, daughter of Md Shahidulllah, a student of Daffodil University, also shared her troubles in getting transport to reach Manikganj from Savar.
She was asked what her reaction was to a new voter this year.
She said, “I am very excited and waiting to cast my vote. Though you also see long queues for voting, I don’t feel uneasy. As a new voter, I have decided to cast my vote for the boat symbol for continuation of the massive development by the government.”
Tahmina Akter, daughter of Amirul Islam, a student of a private university also expressed her satisfaction after casting her maiden votes.
She said, “In social media, I saw so many bad things against the voting system. But I peacefully cast my vote. Nobody created any obstacles to my practicing my voting right.”
I am really so happy seeing the whole environment in and around the polling center at Protasha Adarsha High School, she narrated.