The candidates of Awami League and BNP in the Dhaka 18 by-polls have accused each other of attempting to create unrest near voting centres using outsiders.
The voting started from 8am and will continue till 4pm on Thursday.
Awami League backed candidate Mohammad Habib Hasan said: “We have tens of thousands of leaders and activists in the field. Our opponent friend [SM Jahangir Hossain] has no confidence in the people of Dhaka 18 constituency.”
“He [Jahangir] has gathered people from outside. I have information that he might create terror here through outsiders. We have the people, we do not need any outsider,” he added.
Habib made the allegations after casting his vote and expressed his hope of winning.
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On the other hand, BNP nominated candidate SM Jahangir also raised the same allegation against Habib.
“Awami League candidate is trying to capture the centres by terrorists from the neighbouring Tongi and Gazipur areas [outside Dhaka],” Jahangir alleged while talking to Dhaka Tribune.
Rejecting the ruling party candidate’s allegations, BNP contender SM Jahangir Hossain said: “Everything is under the control of the ruling party men. We cannot even enter voting facilities.”
Jatiya Party's Mohammad Nasir Uddin Sarkar, Gano Front's Kazi Md Shahidullah, Bangladesh Congress's Omar Faruk, and PDP's Mobibullah Bahar are also contesting in this constituency.
Awami league candidate Habib with his wife, descendants and two brothers cast their votes at IES school in Uttara Sector 5.
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“People are casting their votes willingly. I have visited multiple centres since morning and seen that the voter turnout is good. As the day progresses, this number will increase,” he said.
Saying he is 100% sure about winning, Habib said: “The people have turned away from BNP due to their internal conflicts. As much as people had confidence upon them once, it has come down to level zero now.”
He said: “That is the reason why the leaders and activists of BNP are making false allegations against us. It does not go with the political etiquette.”
“In fact, it is their past habit to make allegations and talk like this during elections,” he added.
Habib also rejected the allegation of kicking BNP polling agents out of the centres.
