Independent candidate Tarikul Islam Bhuiyan, chairman of Jonotar Adhikar Party, has boycotted the Dhaka-17 less than two hours after the start of balloting.
He announced his decision while talking to the reporters at Banani Model School centre on Monday morning.
Tarikul, who was contesting the polls with the electoral symbol “Truck”, said: “Fair elections are not possible under this government, it has been proved once again. So, I decided to withdraw from this election.”
He alleged that his polling agents were “obstructed” from entering polling stations.
“None of my agents were allowed to enter polling stations. Awami League leaders and activists have created a hostile situation outside the centres; even police are obstructing my people from entering the polling centres," he claimed.
Another independent candidate, Ashraful Hossen Alom alias Hero Alom, made a similar claim regarding this centre.
Presiding Officer Mahbubul Alam, said no such incident of harassment took place there.
He told Dhaka Tribune that some of the polling agents of Hero Alom did not have any photographs on their ID cards, hence authorities sent them to attach photos.
Balloting for the Dhaka-17 by-polls began at 8am on Monday.
The number of voters is 325,205 under 125 polling stations in the Dhaka-17 constituency, which comprises wards 15,18,19 and 20 of Dhaka North City Corporation as well as the Dhaka cantonment area.
A total of eight MP candidates are contesting in the by-polls. The candidates are Mohammad Arafat (Boat), Ashraful Hossen Alom alias Hero Alom (Ektara), Major (retd) Sikder Anisur Rahman (Plough), Kazi Md Rashedul Hassan Rashed (Rose), Major (retd) Sheikh Habibur Rahman (Sonali Aash), Rezaul Islam Swapan (Green Coconut), Mohammad Akhter Hossain (Chari) and Tarikul Islam Bhuiyan (Truck).
The Election Commission (EC) has taken all-out preparations to hold the polls in a free, fair and credible manner, using ballot papers instead of electronic voting machines (EVM) as a trial run for the national election.
The EC has installed CCTV cameras in all the centres to monitor the voting from its headquarters. Striking forces have been deployed to thwart any attempts at untoward activities.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has also ramped up surveillance and assured of their readiness to ensure smooth voting.
The Dhaka-17 constituency, consisting of Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, and a portion of the Dhaka Cantonment, fell vacant following the death of actor Akbar Hossain Pathan Farooque.
It holds the distinction of being the most affluent constituency in the capital.