Voting in Bangladesh was completed peacefully,, except for some isolated incidents of disorder. Voting was held continuously from 8 am to 4 pm on Sunday, January 7, 2024. Polling was scheduled at 42,000 centers of 299 constituencies across the country, but voting was postponed in 7 centers due to chaos. According to various media reports of the country, attendance at polling stations was very low. However, according to the information of the Election Commission, 40 per cent of the votes were cast. The counting of votes started after 4 pm.
It has been seen that the attendance of voters in the morning was very low. Although the turnout increased slightly as the day progressed. Voting continued till 4 PM without a break.
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal said that an average of 40 per cent of votes were cast across the country. This time, due to the death of an independent candidate in Naogaon-2 constituency, the EC postponed the polling, according to the rules.
Meanwhile, political parties including BNP are observing a 48-hour hartal from the day before the polls in addition to boycotting the elections. On the day before the polls, there were reports of isolated arson in several polling stations in different parts of the country.
Allegations of fake voting were also received in some centres. However, the election commission called the election peaceful. International observers also described the vote as fair and peaceful.
Polling began peacefully in the morning, but violence was reported from various places as the day progressed. A man was hacked to death outside a polling station in Munshiganj this morning. However, Election Commission Secretary Jahangir Alam claimed that it has nothing to do with the vote.
Cocktail and hand grenade explosions were reported outside at least three polling stations in the capital. Four people including children were injured in these incidents. Meanwhile, two cocktails exploded in front of the Chan Mia Sardar (CMS) Memorial School and College center in Karatitola area before the start of polling. In this. An Ansar member named Antar (22) was injured.
Later, around 10 am, two bombs exploded outside the Anneshan School Center in Khilkhet. Also, there were reports of cocktail explosions at Hazaribagh around 12 noon. Meanwhile, at around 11:00 am, a clash between supporters of the boat and truck symbols was reported at a polling station in Jamalpur’s Sarishabari. At least two people were injured.
In addition, some chaos was reported from various districts including Chittagong, Narayanganj, Cox’s Bazar, Cumilla, Sylhet and Tangail. Among them, two people were shot dead in a clash between the supporters of Awami League’s boat symbol candidate Mohiuddin Bachchu and M Manjur Alam, an independent candidate of cauliflower symbol, in Chittagong.
Independent candidate for Chittagong-12 (Patia) Constituency, Jatiya Sangsad Whip Samshul Haque Chowdhury was chased by boat workers while visiting the center at around 12:00 PM. Meanwhile, EC Secretary Jahangir Alam said before the end of the polls, elections at seven centers were cancelled due to various complaints across the country till 3 pm. 15 people have been sentenced to different terms for casting and aiding in casting of fake votes.
40 per cent turnout: EC
Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal has expressed his pleasure over the parliamentary polls in which they estimate 40 per cent of the voters turned up.
Speaking at a media briefing after polling ended on Sunday, he said the figure may change when the final results are out.
Awal said turnout was a major concern for the EC, but the voters “enthusiastically” cast their ballots despite the BNP’s boycott and violent protests.
He claimed there have been no reports of large-scale violence and that quick steps were taken to address alleged irregularities.
“And it is comforting that there has been no death due to election violence — only a few minor incidents.”
“We received some reports of rigging and ballot-box stuffing. We took immediate steps after being informed through the control room. There were some reports that proved to be false. We cross-checked them.”
Addressing concerns about ballot-box stuffing, Awal said officials will exclude ballots lacking signatures while counting.
He also said the polls were free and fair even under a partisan administration because the government was “sincere”.
“We’ll be able to say whether the election has been acceptable once the people and the media speak after the final results are out.”
Victory of democracy: Awami League
Calling the January 7, 2024 election a victory of democracy and people of the country, ruling Awami League (AL) General Secretary Obaidul Quader said on Sunday evening that voters had boycotted the BNP for rejecting the election.
He made the claim while talking to reporters at the office of Dhaka district unit of Awami League in Dhaka’s Tejgaon.
“The BNP did not participate in the election but they wanted to foil the election. The BNP carried out terrorism and arson attacks to thwart the election, but the people rejected them through ballots,” he said.
People gave massive support to the Awami League through extending their support to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he said.
Quader, also road, transport and bridges minister, said the Election Commissioner has already told more than 40 per cent of the vote cast.
Calling the election a victory of democracy, he said they were most grateful to the people of Bangladesh in the 12th parliamentary election.
Through this election, the people of the whole world and Bangladesh have witnessed the victory of the people, he claimed.
Quader said the people voted for the candidates of their choice and there was no intimidation or interference in voting.
The election will strengthen the democratic progress further, he added.
Voters boycotting ‘one-sided’ election: BNP
Claiming that their party’s call for boycotting the ‘unilateral’ national election was successful, BNP senior leader Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan on Sunday congratulated the voters for not going to the polling stations.
Talking to reporters at his Gulshan residence, he also said the people of the country rejected the Awami League government through this voter-less election.
“On behalf of not only BNP but also all the 62 political parties who boycotted this farcical election, I salute the people of Bangladesh for the sole reason that they have never compromised on the question of democracy. They also didn’t do this this time as well,” the BNP leader said.
Stating that the pictures taken by the media speak, he said thousands of photos have already been there on social media. “You can see pictures of dogs standing, lying down and basking in the sun in front of the polling stations in the absence of voters.”
