United News of Bangladesh

Five election commissioners, including Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, are set to cast their votes at their respective polling centres in the 13th National Election and referendum on Thursday. CEC Nasir Uddin is scheduled to vote at Eskaton Garden High School in the Dhaka-8 constituency. He is expected to be present at the polling centre at 9:30am. Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Mashud is expected to cast his vote at Alor Dhara School centre in Uttara around 8:30am. Election Commissioner Tahmida Ahmed will cast her vote at Agrani School and College centre in Azimpur. She is expected to exercise her franchise at 9:30am. Election Commissioners Md Anwarul Islam Sarker and Brig Gen Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah (Retd.) will cast their votes in Narayanganj-1 and Dhaka-8 constituencies respectively. Anwarul Islam is expected to vote at Daudpur Putina High School in Rupganj, Narayanganj, while Sanaullah will cast his ballot at Viqarunnisa Noon School & College.  

A total of 17,988 voters including inmates of Faridpur district jail will cast their votes through postal ballots in the national election. Among them, 52 inmates and 13 jail officials and employees will exercise their franchise through the postal ballot system. Of the 52 jail inmate voters, two are women. Jail sources said Faridpur district jail currently houses 1,244 inmates including 51 women. Read More: Bangladeshi expats cast 458,000 postal votes ahead of Feb-12 polls Out of the total inmates, 52 expressed interest in voting by postal ballot. Of them, 10 are under trial prisoners while 42 are convicted prisoners. The two female voters are also convicted prisoners. Jail Superintendent Md Nazrul Islam said jail inmates and under-trial prisoners were encouraged to participate in the election following the Election Commission’s announcement. “Applications were collected from interested inmates and all required procedures have been completed. Preparations are also underway to set up two voting booths for inmates and one separate booth for officers and employees inside the jail,” he said. Faridpur Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Md Kamrul Hasan Mollah said “We have already completed all special preparations. We hope that, following Election Commission guidelines, voters will be able to participate in the postal voting process smoothly for the first time,” he said. Read More: Political parties urged to pledge separate road safety law in election manifestoes