Bangladesh goes to polls amid fear of violence

The BNP and like-minded parties have called a 48-hour hartal, which began on Saturday and will coincide with election day Sunday..

Against a backdrop of pre-election violence across Bangladesh, ensuring a satisfactory voter turnout at Sunday’s general election is the biggest challenge for the Election Commission and the Awami League government.

Hartals, blockades, and curfews called by the opposition BNP and like-minded parties, as well as their calls for boycotting the election, are the main reasons for voters being afraid to go to the polling centres.

However, ruling Awami League leaders, who are involved in the election process, said a good number of voters will go to the polling centres in some 179 seats, which are mostly outside Dhaka. 

Reasons that could result in low turnout 

Some of the reasons that could slow voter turnout include the programs called by the opposition parties for a boycott of the election.

The BNP and like-minded parties have called a 48-hour hartal, which began on Saturday and will coincide with election day Sunday.

Apart from these programs, the BNP and its allies have been urging people to stay away from the polls, alleging that only the Awami League and its allies are participating in the election.

On the other hand, the recent violence and arson attacks across the country could also be a reason why voters may feel anxious when going out on polling day. 

On Friday night, four people were killed when arsonists set fire to five coaches of the Benapole Express in Dhaka.

Meanwhile, the Fire Service and Civil Defence said at least six vehicles and 10 establishments were set on fire in the 16 hours till 10am on Saturday.

Several educational institutions across Bangladesh, designated as polling centres, were also set on fire.

Sources said another reason for a low voter turnout could be the citizens’ mindset regarding the election, as the BNP and other major opposition parties are not participating in the 12th national polls. 

People may think that the Awami League will anyway go to power for the fourth consecutive term, which conclusion could dissuade them from voting. 

In addition, Awami League candidates as well as party-backed independent candidates are trying to come by victory in the same seats, which may discourage people from voting.

Awami League leaders claimed that the voter list provided by the Election Commission was not updated in a  timely manner. 

Sheikh Bazlur Rahman, president of Dhaka North Awami League, told Dhaka Tribune on Saturday that there is a huge discrepancy between the voter list of the Election Commission and the voter list the party has in hand.

“We have inquired about almost every constituency in Dhaka and never found more than 60% of voters in any area listed by the Election Commission. The reasons are death and migration of the voters,” he said. 

Bazlur Rahman said on average 30-40% of the voters are now there in most of the constituencies in Dhaka, just one day before the polls. “Then how can we ensure a high voter turnout?”

The Awami League leader later said it would have been better if the Election Commission had updated the voter list one year before the polls so one could have a proper estimate of the number of voters. 

Speaking to this correspondent, a Dhaka MP, who got less than 15% of votes in a recent election, said: “In my constituency, it is very hard to even secure 50,000 votes because most of the voters left the place a long time ago.”

“I have only 40% of voters in my constituency now in contrast to the list provided by the Election Commission,” he said. 

According to the final voter list published by the Election Commission, a total of 119,689,289 people are eligible to cast their votes in the 12th parliamentary election. Of them, there are 67,609,741 male voters, 58,918,699 female voters, and 849 transgender voters.

Meanwhile, there are around 15 million voters who are currently abroad.

Despite the government's effort to launch postal ballots for expatriates, the turnout has not been satisfactory yet. 

Talking to Dhaka Tribune Saturday morning, Biplab Barua, special assistant to the prime minister and Awami League office secretary, said the party is expecting a 50% voter turnout for the 12th national polls. 

Meanwhile, several Awami League leaders are saying among the 299 seats, some 120 constituencies will see a lower voter turnout. 

However, a number of Awami League leaders who are actively involved in this election process expect that in the rest of the 179 constituencies, where multiple strong candidates are contesting in the polls, the voter turnout will be comparatively higher.

Several constituencies in Bangladesh are poised for intense competition. 

In Rangpur division, the seats include Panchagarh 1; Thakurgaon 1, 2; Dinajpur 1, 3, 4, 6; Nilphamari 1, 2, 3, 4; Lalmonirhat 1, 2, 3; Rangpur-1, 2, 3, 5; Kurigram-2, 3, 4; and Gaibandha 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Similarly, in Rajshahi Division, fierce competition is anticipated in Joypurhat 1, 2; Bogra 1, 4, 6, 7; Chapainawabganj 1, 2; Naogaon 1, 3, 4, 5, 6; Rajshahi 1, 2, 4, 5, 6; Natore 1, 2, 3, 4; Sirajganj 3, 5; and Pabna 1, 3, 4.

Fierce competition is likely in 21 out of the 36 constituencies within Khulna division. Notable seats are Meherpur 1, 2; Kushtia 1, 2, 3, 4; Chuadanga 1, 2; Jhenidah 1, 2, 3, 4; Jessore 2, 3, 5, 6; Bagerhat 3; Khulna 4; and Satkhira 1, 2, 4.

Intense competition is expected in 21 out of the 36 constituencies in Khulna division. These include Meherpur 1, 2; Kustia 1, 2, 3, 4; Chuadanga 1, 2; Jhenidah 1, 2, 3, 4; Jessore 2, 3, 5, 6; Bagerhat 3; Khulna 4; Satkhira 1, 2, 4.

A total of 13 constituencies out of the 21 in Barisal division are anticipated to witness intense competition. These include Barguna 1; Patuakhali 1, 3, 4; Bhola-3; Barisal 2, 3, 6; and Pirojpur 1, 2, 3.

Similarly, fierce competition is expected in 20 out of the 24 constituencies in Mymensingh division. These include Jamalpur 2, 4, 5; Sherpur 1, 3; Mymensingh 1 to 11; and Netrokona 1, 2, 3, 5.

In Dhaka division, there will be fierce competition in various constituencies, including Tangail 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8; Kishoreganj 1, 2, 3, 5; Manikganj 1, 2; Munshiganj 1, 3; Dhaka 1, 4, 5, 7, 14, 18, 19, 20; Gazipur 1 to 5; Narayanganj 1; Rajbari 1, 2; Faridpur 1 to 4; Gopalganj 1; Madaripur 3; and Shariatpur 2.

In Sylhet division, there will be competitive races in various constituencies including Sylhet 2, 3, 5, 6; Sunamganj 1 to 4; Moulvibazar 3; and Habiganj 1, 2, 4.

In Chittagong division, intense contest is expected in several constituencies: Brahmanbaria 1, 2, 3; Comilla 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11; Chandpur 2, 3, 4, 5; Feni 3; Noakhali 1, 2, 3, 4, Lakshmipur 1,2,3,4; Chittagong 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15; and, Cox’s Bazar 1, 2.

The 12th national polls are scheduled to be held on Sunday.. 

The Election Commission on Saturday dispatched election materials, including ballot boxes and other equipment, to polling centres across the country.

Balloting will get underway at 8am and continue till 4pm without break at 261,912 polling booths in 42,024 voting centres.

Ballot papers will be sent to most of the polling centres early in the morning on polling day.