Bangladesh
Election Voting in 12th National Parliament elections underway
Dhaka, Jan 7: Voting for the 12th National Assembly elections has begun simultaneously across the country.
Voting began at 8 am and it will continue non-stop till 4 pm today (Sunday, Jan 7). The Election Commission (EC) has completed all preparations for the election. A large number of members of law and order forces have been deployed across the country in a fair and acceptable election in a festive atmosphere.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal appealed to the voters to come to the polling stations and cast their votes fearlessly and joyfully, overcoming all worries, anxieties and discomforts. He has urged the people to exercise their right to vote fearlessly in a joyful atmosphere as part of their inviolable constitutional duty. Besides, the CEC directed the law and order forces to create a safe environment for everyone during the elections.
Photo: Collected
Earlier, the CEC announced the election schedule in an address to the nation from the Election Commission building in Agargaon at 7 pm on November 15 last year. As per the announcement, the polling started at 8 am today after campaigning after submission of nomination papers, withdrawal of candidature, allotment of symbols. As per the schedule, the election campaign which started on December 18 with the allotment of symbols among the candidates ended in a tussle at 8 am on Friday.
The competition in this election is mainly between Awami League and independent candidates of the party. There are independent candidates in the constituencies even though there is an agreement with the Jatiya Party and left parties in the elections. The conflict of independents with the candidates of the ruling party is more. Many people have already been injured.
In this election, 1,970 candidates will contest in 299 out of 300 parliamentary seats. 1,534 candidates are fighting for 28 political parties, and 436 candidates are fighting as independent candidates. Besides, EC postponed the election of Naogaon-2 seat due to the death of independent candidate Aminul Islam. As a result, the polling is being held in 299 seats.
