The Awami League's candidate for the Dhaka-17 by-polls, Mohammad A Arafat, has said he is confident of securing victory after casting his vote at a polling centre in Dhaka's Gulshan.
He went to the Gulshan Model School and College at around 11:10am on Monday to exercise his franchise.
After casting his vote at the centre, the Awami League leader said he expects to see higher voter turnout as the day goes by.
He said: “I have been trying to bring voters to centres from the beginning of my campaign. As this by-poll is only valid for six months, many voters may find it less desirable. However, I want everyone to come at the centres and exercise their franchise.”
Awami League's candidate for the Dhaka-17 by-polls, Mohammad A Arafat, casts his vote at the polling centre Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka TribuneResponding to a question related to the low number of polling agents of opponent candidates at the centres, the ruling party candidate said there are more than 600 booths in this constituency. So at least 1,200 agents are needed. Many candidates may not have the capacity to have that many polling agents, but Awami league has this organizational capacity.
On low voter turnout, Arafat said: “As you have seen in recent by-polls voter turnout was low. Our target is to increase the number of voters. At least make it double than the recent by-polls”
Prof Mohammad Ali Arafat is an academic, political analyst, and commentator, as well as the founding convener and current chairman of Suchinta Foundation, a Bangladeshi non-profit think tank and research centre.
He is also a member of the Awami League's Central Working Committee and is set to contest the Dhaka-17 by-polls on the ruling party ticket, with the “Boat” symbol.
Balloting for the Dhaka-17 by-polls began at 8am on Monday.
The voting will continue till 4pm.
Voters were seen at several polling centres in Banani and Gulshan since 7am amidst the rain.