The Awami League candidate in the ongoing Dhaka-17 by-election Mohammad A Arafat said there has been low voter turnout so far because there was rain in the morning and also some people in that constituency wake up late.

"People in the Gulshan, Banani, and Baridhara areas wake up late. But in Karail and Bhasantek areas, voter turnout is good. So far, the voting environment is peaceful," he told journalists after casting his vote at Gulshan Model School and College around 11:00am.

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Dhaka-17 by-polls: Voter turnout low in first 2 hours

"We are urging voters to come to the polling centres. We know that by coming to the centres, voters will actually vote for the boat [electoral symbol of AL].

He said that since the by-election had a short campaigning period, there may not be a high level of enthusiasm amongst voters, but he hoped to get the sufficient number of votes.

The by-polls of Dhaka-17 began at 8:00am and will continue till 4:00pm without any break.

The seat became vacant after the death of film actor and member of parliament Akbar Hossain Pathan Farooque.