Polling goes on since morning in Rajshahi peacefully

Polling for the 12th parliament has been going on everywhere in six constituencies in the district since its beginning at 8 am peacefully coupled with festive moods.

Many of the voters were seen coming to their respective centres in the morning braving winter chill.

At 8 am, 14-party alliance nominated candidate Fazley Hossain Badsha (Boat) cast his vote at Zulfia Government Primary School Polling Centre in Rajshahi-2 (City) constituency.

Another independent candidate Prof Shafiqur Rahman Badsha exercised his rights of franchise at Charkhuta UCEP Momena School Centre at 10.20 am.

A total of 42 candidates are in the election race in six constituencies and there are 21,77,714 voters, including 10,92,996 females, to cast votes in 770 polling centres in Rajshahi district.

Earlier at 4 am, Assistant Returning Officer Ashraful Islam distributed ballot papers among the presiding officers from Hazi Muhammad Mohsin High School.

On the other hand, in all eight districts in Rajshahi division, there are 1,54,60,332 voters and 332 candidates are in the election race in 38 constituencies.

A total of 17,451 new voters were registered in 39 parliamentary seats in the region for the 12th parliament election, raising the voter number to 1,54,73,340.

Regional Election Officer Delwar Hossain said there were 1,37,57,889 voters in the previous 11th parliament election.

He said there are 77,16,563 female voters and 77,56,676 male voters meaning the male voters outnumbered the female voters. This time, the number of transgender voters is 101.

In the region, polling is being held in 34,059 booths of 5,436 centers in 39 constituencies of Rajshahi region on January 7 like other parts of the country. But, elections to Naogaon-2 constituency have been postponed due to the death of a candidate.

Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Dr Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir told the journalists that 1,000 BGB members, 20,000 police, 3,700 army and 65,000 ansar-VDP people are performing duties for peaceful and successful holding of election in all 38 constituencies in eight districts under the division. (BSS)