Early rush of voters low in some Chattogram polling centres

Although voting began at 8am at polling centres all across Chattogram, few voters had arrived in the first two hours of the chilly winter morning.

Rabeya Basri Girls' High School in Chattogram's Halishahar has a total of 6,920 male and female voters in two polling centres. Between 8-10am, only 143 votes were cast there. 

"The low turnout could be due to the cold weather. I hope the number of voters would increase as the day progressed," said Kazi Mohammad Shahed Hasan, presiding officer of the centre. 

Meanwhile, in the Chattogram-11 (Bandar-Patenga) constituency, 5.26% of votes were cast in the first two hours.

"Out of 3,444 voters, 181 had voted, including 40 women and 141 men," Jabed Rahim, the presiding officer of the centre, told The Business Standard.

At the adjacent Bandar Mohammadia Dakhil Madrasa centre, 365 votes were cast in the first two hours. 

"The male centre has a total of 3,453 voters, and voting is being conducted in seven booths. Till 10am, 10.57% of votes were cast," Presiding Officer of the centre Shahidul Islam Bachchu said.

At 9am the Chandgaon Mohra Sayera Khatun Girls' High School polling station was almost empty. 

The security personnel, including the police and forces, engaged in casual conversation.

Voters were arriving after some time, casting their votes, and then leaving.

"There are 2,607 registered voters at the Chandgaon Mohra Sayera Khatun Girls' High School centre, which has six booths. By 9am, only 80 voters had cast their votes," Presiding officer Md Azim Bepari told The Business Standard. 

Voter turnout was visibly low in Abediya Government Primary School, Kapasgola Government Primary School, Bakalia Shaheed NMJ Degree College, and Dr Khastagir Girls' High School polling centres as well.

But it is expected numbers will pick up after noon. 

In the sixteen seats of Chattogram, there are a total of 63.14 lakh voters. The district has 32.89 lakh men, 30.25 lakh women, and 56 hijra voters.

125 candidates have entered the electoral race for the sixteen Chattogram seats.

Allegation of polling centres seizure attempt

In the Chattogram-11 (Bandar-Patenga) constituency, a group of  people attempted to seize three polling stations a few hours before the start of the vote.

Police later arrived at the polling stations and brought the situation under control.

"Upon receiving reports of outsiders entering the centre, the police went to the site. Seeing a crowd outside the centre, the police dispersed everyone," Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bandar police station, Monjur Kader, said when contacted at 8am in the morning. 

"Ziaul Haq Sumon's supporters have complained that MA Latif's people entered the centre. We are investigating the matter. Currently, I am at Munshipara High School, and the situation is normal," he added.

The AL candidate's media cell Director, Jahedul Islam, said, "The ballot boxes are supposed to reach the centres in the morning. If they say our people went to seize the centres, what would they do after seizing them?"

Supporters of the independent candidate Ziaul Haq Sumon claimed the incident occurred around 2am in Munshipara area of Bandar police station, leading to tension in the entire area.