Voting under way in Thakurgaon-1 by-election: BNP candidate alleges rival's agents are Jamaat's
Voting in the Thakurgaon-1 parliamentary by-election began at 8am on Thursday and will continue without a break until 4pm.
On the morning of polling day, BNP-nominated candidate Mirza Faysal Amin alleged that the polling agents of the candidate with the 'Dab' symbol are in fact working for Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. Speaking to reporters after visiting the Thakurgaon Government Women's College polling centre at around 9:15am on Thursday, he said the Dab symbol's agents had all become Jamaat's agents, and that Jamaat's agents had entered centres carrying the Dab candidate's papers.
Earlier, after casting his own vote at the Thakurgaon Government Girls' High School centre, Mirza Faysal Amin expressed full confidence of victory. But he said the people's verdict in the ballot is final, and everyone should have the mindset to accept that verdict.
He said a festive and peaceful atmosphere prevailed so far and voters were coming to centres without any hindrance. Despite somewhat adverse weather in the morning, he expected voter turnout to become satisfactory as the day progressed. He also said the administration would take necessary measures if it considered any centre risky.
The by-election is being held because the seat was declared vacant after Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir assumed the office of President.
According to the Election Commission, voting is taking place in 989 booths at 185 centres in the constituency: 113 centres in Thakurgaon Sadar upazila, 33 in the newly formed Ruhia upazila and 39 in Bhulli upazila.
Local election office statistics put the total number of voters in the seat at 515,853 — 257,219 men, 258,630 women and four third-gender voters. A total of 287 voters — 249 men and 38 women — have registered for postal ballots.
Five candidates in total are contesting the seat.
