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.
Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka TribuneWhile talking to Dhaka Tribune, the first voter at Banani Model High School polling centre, Selina Akhter said: “Today feels like Eid, so I came early in the morning.”
Another woman, 65-year-old Amena Begum, proudly stated that she has never missed a single voting day since becoming a voter.
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She came to the polling centre at 7am, and said she will go to work after she casts her vote. She is a househelp, and lives in Korail bosti (shanty town).
Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka TribuneSalma, a 35-year-old garment worker, emphasized that those who support and stand by low-income people and work towards resolving the issues are considered worthy candidates in her view.
Presiding Officer Mahbubul Alam stated that all parties' polling agents were present at the polling centre, and were in the central room.
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).
Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka TribuneThe 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.
Mahmud Hossain Opu/Dhaka TribuneThe 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.
