Only a handful of votes were cast at Uttara High School and College, one of the largest polling centres in the Dhaka 18 by-election, since polling began on Thursday morning.
The centre, however, witnesses a huge crowd of thousands of supporters of Awami League nominated candidate Md Habib Hasan outside the venue.
Over 36,000 voters from Uttara Sector 3 and Sector 7 are listed to cast their votes at this centre.
Visiting the centre after the polling began, Dhaka Tribune found out that the voter turnover remained thin in the first three hours of the polling.
Almost empty Uttara High School and College, one of the largest polling centres in the Dhaka-18 by-election on Thursday, November 12, 2020 | Dhaka Tribune
At the centre’s Room 3, which will receive votes of 412 female voters, saw its first vote being cast after three hours.
“There is a computer monitor which displays how many vote have been cast till now. You can see it with your own eyes!” replied the room’s assistant presiding officer when asked about voter turnout.
However, the sight is not so bleak outside the polling centre.
Dhaka Tribune found that along with party supporters, groups of young boys have also gathered around the voting centre with much festivity. However, most of them are not voters of this area and are under 18 years of age.
Not surprisingly, street vendors have also arrived outside the polling centre where they are selling food and snacks to the crowd.
