Dhaka-17 by-polls: Voting begins

Voting in by-polls to the Dhaka-17 constituency has started. Voting began at 8am and will continue till 4pm in 124 polling stations without any break.

Dhaka-17 consistency encompasses Gulshan-Banani, Bhashantek thanas and cantonment areas. Voting will be held in ballots in the constituency. A general holiday was declared in the area.

A total of 3,25,205 people are eligible voters. Of them, the number of women voters is 1,53,580.

Eight people are contesting the elections. They are Mohammad Ali Arafat of ruling Awami League, Shikder Anisur Rahman of Jatiya Party, Kazi Md Rashidul Hasan of Jaker Party, Sheikh Habibur Rahman of Trinomool BNP, Md Rezaul Islam Swapan of Bangladesh Congress, and Md Akbar Hossain of Bangladesh Sangskritik Mukti Jote.

Independent candidates are Md Ashraful Alam alias Hero Alam, and Md Tariqul Islam.

Dhaka-17 seat fell vacant after the death of actor Akbar Hossain Pathan on May 15.

Campaigning in the constituency was stopped on Saturday morning while the EC has banned the movement of motorcycles in the constituency since Saturday midnight.

A ban has also been imposed on the movement of trucks, minibuses, microbuses, jeeps, pickup vans, cars and easy-bikes. However, the highways will remain out of the purview of the ban.

/KN/MHK/