Voting in the by-elections to Chattogram-8 (Boalkhali-Chandgaon) constituency was progressing peacefully this morning.

Voting started at 9:00am and will continue until 5:00pm without any break in 170 voting centres. Electronic voting machines (EVMs) are being used at all polling centres in this election.

Also read: By-polls to Ctg-8 today

Voter turn-out was low in the chilly winter morning till 11:30am, around the time of the filing of the report. But more voters are expected to show up to exercise their rights later in the day, reports our staff correspondent.

There are 475,996 voters and six candidates in the constituency.

The candidates include Awami League’s Moslem Uddin Ahmed and BNP’s Abu Sufian, are contesting the by-polls.

The other contestants are -- Chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) SM Abul Kalam Azad, Syed Mohammad Farid Uddin of Islamic Front Bangladesh, Bapon Dasgupta of NAP and independent candidate Mohammad Emdadul Haque.

Chattogram-8 constituency is comprised of five wards (ward No 3-7) of Chittagong City Corporation and Boalkhali upazila, except Sripur and Kharandip unions.

The constituency fell vacant due to death of lawmaker Moin Uddin Khan Badal on November 7 last year.