‘Voter presence thin in the morning, should increase later’

Voter turnout in the Gazipur City Corporation was low in the morning, but it should increase as the day progresses, said the polls' returning officer and the Gazipur deputy commissioner.

"Voter presence is thin so far. Traditionally voter presence increases in the afternoon," Returning Officer Faridul Islam told reporters after visiting Joyedebpur Government Girls High School polling centre.

Gazipur Deputy Commissioner Anisur Rahman also stated the same while visiting the centre along with the RO around 12:00 noon.

"We hope voters' presence will increase in the afternoon," he said.

Due to fast and effortless voting by electronic voting machines (EVMs), voters are coming and leaving quickly after casting their votes, the RO said, adding that that's why there were no long queues outside the centres.

Voting in all the 480 centres of GCC are going on in a very peaceful and enthusiastic environment, he added.

"All EVMs are working well and voters are leaving centres after voting for their desired candidates without any hindrance," Faridul said.

He also said no rival candidate had so far filed any complaints. Judicial and executive magistrates, members of Rab and BGB were vigilant to help hold the election in a free and fair manner, he added.

Except one or two minor incidents, there has been no other occurrence of any deterioration of law and order in the GCC polls, said DC Anisur Rahman.

"Voting is going on in a festive mood so far," he said in the morning.

Ashok Kumar Debnath, an additional secretary and an observer on behalf of the EC told reporters that he alone visited at least 15 polling centres and his team visited 50 centres as of 11:00am, and they did not see any untoward situation as voting was taking place in a peaceful and festive mood.

When asked, he said voters were allowed to carry mobile phones with them but they were asked to switch them off before entering the centres. Voters were also allowed to take photos inside the polling centres, he added.

Meanwhile, Two of the polling centres -- Bangladesh Rice Research Institute High School and BRRI Progati Primary School -- seemed deserted during a visit by our correspondent.

Shajahan Sikdar, presiding officer of Bangladesh Rice Research Institute High School polling centre, said only 277 out of 1,941 votes were cast till 12:00 noon.

Similar situation prevailed in the BRRI Progati Primary School centre. Only 465 out of 1,950 votes were cast till noon, said a polling official of the centre.

However, in contrast to the situation inside the centres, supporters of ruling AL candidate were seen chanting slogans in front of the centres, reports our correspondent from the spot.