The by-polls of the Narayanganj 5 constituency is set to take place today, amid an uneasy calm dampening the enthusiasm of the voters who will either elect another member of the Osman family or his rival SM Akram.
Most of the voters in the Narayanganj sadar constituency, which had fallen vacant following the death of Nasim Osman, remain tight-lipped, possibly for fear of violence and rigging by alleged armed goons of contender Selim Osman and his brother Shamim Osman, MP.
In the run-up to the election, independent candidate SM Akram expressed his concern over fair voting and blamed JP candidate Selim Osman for such a situation. However, Selim ruled out the allegation.
Meanwhile, the returning officer and high officials concerned assured voters that they were ready to deal with any sort of violent situation, saying that people could cast their votes without any fear.
The Election Commission said they had completed all preparations for the election. Voting will start at 8:00am and continue till 4:00pm without any break. Four candidates are contesting in the by-polls.
Talking to different sections of people in the election area, it was found that voters were fearful of trouble on voting day. Voters said they would observe the situation before casting their votes.
“A suffocating situation is prevailing here. You will not find a single man who will talk about the election publicly. Everything depends on the law and order situation on the poll day,” the owner of a bookstore told the Dhaka Tribune, seeking anonymity.
A fruit vendor named Abdul Hamid of Bandar area said people had no interest in the voting and only a few people would go to vote, adding, “Let’s see the situation and then we will decide whether we will cast vote or not.”
At least 656 members of Rapid Action Battalion and 1,250 policemen have been deployed in the election area apart from four platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Senior Assistant Secretary of the commission Farhad Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune.
Four executive and two judicial magistrates have been deployed to hold trials of those who violate the electoral code of conduct. The mobile and striking forces have also been deployed in the by-polls.
He also said the commission had changed 12 presiding officers of the Narayanganj 5 by-polls.
SM Akram alleged that voters in different areas were being harassed by Selim Osman’s supporters.
“I am getting information from different sources that Selim Osman’s cadres are planning to capture the polling stations. My activists fell victim to Selim Osman’s cadres when they were distributing voter slips in different areas,” he claimed.
Selim Osman ruled out the allegation, saying that Akram was spreading slander. “If anybody plans to do so, I request the administration to take action against them,” he said.
Narayanganj Superintendent of Police Khandakar Mahid Uddin Ahmed said around 4,500 law enforcers will be on duty while mobile teams and strike forces will also be deployed to avert any sort of untoward incidents.
Wing Commander Habibur Rahman, director of media wing of RAB, said they will prove their efficiency in the election and for this, the force has already started working. “I assure the people of Narayanganj that we are with you,” he said.
Returning Officer Mihir Sarwar Morshed said voters could return to their homes safely after casting their votes as sufficient law enforcers were deployed to ensure their security.
A total of 342,405 voters --174,311 male and 168,094 female --will cast their votes in the by-polls. A total of 141 polling centres along with 674 polling booths have been set up to hold the by-polls of Narayanganj 5 constituency, comprising 13 wards and parts of four wards of the city corporation and seven unions.
As per the election rule, no motor vehicles can operate in the election area without permission from the Election Commission.