Voting underway in Dhaka-5, Naogaon-6 by-polls

The by-election of Dhaka-5 and Naogaon-6 constituencies started smoothly on Saturday morning as voters turned up to decide between the contenders.

The voting started at 9 am and will continue till 5pm with police, Rapid Action Battalion and Ansar officials deployed.

Md Kazi Monirul Islam nominated by Awami League (AL) and Salauddin Ahmed nominated by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) are there in the electoral race for Dhaka-5 constituency, along with four other candidates.

The four other contenders are Mir Abdus Sabir of Jatiya Party, HM Ibrahim Bhuiyan of Gano Front, Md Arifur Rahman of National People's Party (NPP) and Md Ansar Hossain Sikdar of Bangladesh Congress.  

Meanwhile, Md Anwar Hossain Helal of AL, Sheikh Md Rezaul Islam of BNP and Md Khandkar Intekhab Alam of NPP are running for the seat of Naogaon-6 constituency.

A total of 4,71,129 voters comprising of  2,41,464 male and 229665 female, are expected to vote under 187 polling stations.

And, in the constituency comprising Raninagar and Atrai upazilas, a total of 3, 06,725 voters, 1, 53,758 males and 1, 52,967 females, will vote in 104 polling stations.

Earlier on September 3, the Election Commission announced the by-election schedules for the two parliamentary constituencies after the death of MP Habibur Rahman Mollah on May 6 and MP Israfil Alam on July 27.

The voters said, besides few issues, the voting process has been going quite well as all the procedures were being maintained with discipline and that there were separate lines for female and male voters to avoid any issues as well.

BNP candidate Sheikh Md Reza however alleged his party was not experiencing fair treatment.