Voters cast their votes in a free and peaceful in Khulna, Rajshahi.
Voting for the 12th Parliamentary Election has begun peacefully amid tight security measures and festive atmosphere with spontaneous participation of the enthusiastic voters.
The elections are being held at 4,720 polling booths of 793 polling centers of six constituencies of Khulna district from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
This reporter has visited around 30 polling centers which cover the areas of Khulna-2,3 and 4 parliamentary constituencies in Khulna.
While visiting different polling centers of the city, this reporter has talked to the presiding officers, who said the voters' turnout is satisfactory. They said there was no incident of violence till filing this report around 11.45am.
A total of 10 returning officers, 71 assistant returning officers, 4,984 presiding officers, 30,253 assistant presiding officers, and 60,506 polling agents are performing their duties according to the direction of Election Commissioner (EC).
A large number of voters, including women and aged persons, were seen standing in long queues to cast their votes spontaneously at different polling centers in the city.
Talking to the BSS, Presiding officer Shaheen Hossain of Nirala Adarsha School center in Khulna-2 constituency said around 20 percent voters in the center casted their votes till 11.30am.
Replying a question, the presiding officer said all voters of the locality were coming spontaneously and fearlessly to cast their votes and expressed his hope that the vote casting would be 50 to 60 percent at the end.
An elderly voter, Mazeda Begum, 70, came to Khulna Sonapota School Center to cast her vote this morning said, "I voted in the national election many times. This time too, I have exercised my franchise with satisfaction over the environment of the voting center".
Parveen Begum, 23, a labourer of the Khulna-3 constituency, who also cast her vote at the Iqbalnagar Girls High School, said, "I have cast my vote for the first time."
The number of voters in 10 districts is 1, 34, 46,783. Of them, 67, 46,491 are male, 67, 00,205 are female voters. The number of transgender voters is 87. Talking to BSS after casting vote, AL backed candidates Sheikh Salah Uddin Zwel told BSS, voters are casting votes with festive mood. Environment friendly votes are prevailing in Khulna.
At least 60 to 65 percent voters will cast their votes in Khulna constituencies, he hoped.
BSS from Rajshahi adds: Voters cast their votes in a free and peaceful atmosphere in Rajshahi-2 constituency on Sunday.
Polling for the 12th parliament began everywhere in six constituencies in the district since its beginning at 8 am peacefully coupled with festive moods.
Many of the voters were seen coming to their respective centres in the morning braving winter chill.
At 8 am, 14-party alliance nominated candidate Fazley Hossain Badsha (Boat) cast his vote at Zulfia Government Primary School Polling Centre in Rajshahi-2 (City) constituency.
Another independent candidate Prof Shafiqur Rahman Badsha exercised his rights of franchise at Charkhuta UCEP Momena School Centre at 10.20 am.
A total of 42 candidates are in the election race in six constituencies and there are 21,77,714 voters, including 10,92,996 females, to cast votes in 770 polling centres in Rajshahi district.
Earlier at 4 am, Assistant Returning Officer Ashraful Islam distributed ballot papers among the presiding officers from Hazi Muhammad Mohsin High School.
On the other hand, in all eight districts in Rajshahi division, there are 1,54,60,332 voters and 332 candidates are in the election race in 38 constituencies.
A total of 17,451 new voters were registered in 39 parliamentary seats in the region for the 12th parliament election, raising the voter number to 1,54,73,340.
Regional Election Officer Delwar Hossain said there were 1,37,57,889 voters in the previous 11th parliament election.
He said there are 77,16,563 female voters and 77,56,676 male voters meaning the male voters outnumbered the female voters.
This time, the number of transgender voters is 101.
In the region, polling is being held in 34,059 booths of 5,436 centers in 39 constituencies of Rajshahi region on January 7 like other parts of the country.
But, elections to Naogaon-2 constituency have been postponed due to the death of a candidate.
Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Dr Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir told the journalists that 1,000 BGB members, 20,000 police, 3,700 army and 65,000 ansar-VDP people are performing duties for peaceful and successful holding of election in all 38 constituencies in eight districts under the division.
