Reporter's account: Optimism and concern — 'Let it end as peacefully as it began'
Voters turn out in large numbers across Dhaka as independent candidate Tasnim Jara alleges irregularities
Voters turned out in large numbers at polling centres across Dhaka this morning (12 February) in a festive atmosphere; however, some concerns over post-election freedoms and fresh allegations of obstruction at polling stations tempered the optimism.
Four hours after the first ballot was cast in the first national election following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, this correspondent visited at least five polling centres in Dhaka by 11:30am and found no major allegations of violence or large-scale irregularities in Mohammadpur, Banani, Tejgaon and Gulshan. However, independent candidate Tasnim Jara has alleged obstruction of her polling agents.
This report was filed at 11:45am.
At around 10:30am, 23-year-old Dhaka University student Samia Mairum from the Department of International Relations described the atmosphere at Banani Bidyaniketon as orderly and upbeat.
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"Everyone has come to vote like it's an Eid day," she said.
However, she expressed unease about what might follow the polls.
"What I fear most is freedom of speech and freedom of movement after the elections. I'm skeptical that the upcoming government will allow us the same freedom to criticise them. I am also concerned about some derogatory remarks made by certain leaders regarding the women's movement," she added.
Nusrat Chowdhury, a former college teacher, joined the queue early at Sher-e-Bangla High School on Manik Mia Avenue and reported no irregularities.
"It feels like the vote is truly back in the country. I would say this could be the most peaceful election in our history, let it end as peacefully as it began," she said.
Nusrat Chowdhury, a former college teacher, told TBS that she walked 30 minutes from Lalmatia to Rajdhani schoool to vote in Dhaka-12
"I hope the new government will bring some hope to women's lives in terms of safety and security," she said.
Meanwhile, Uzma Haider struggles in a wheelchair, to ascend into third floor of Banani BIdya Niketon. She never exercised her voting rights after 2001.
"I came here around half an hour ago, but couldn't go upstairs all three floors. They have no ramp facility or elevator," she said.
Tasnim Jara alleges agents barred
Amid the largely festive turnout, Tasnim Jara, an independent candidate contesting Dhaka-9 with the football symbol, alleged that her polling agents were being obstructed at several centres.
She claimed that her agents were barred from entering or forcibly removed from polling stations on what she described as "fabricated" grounds.
According to her, in some centres her agents were told they could not enter because they were not registered voters of the area. In others, officials cited the existence of separate male and female polling stations as a reason for denying access. In several instances, agents were reportedly prevented from entering for carrying mobile phones.
Tasnim Jara said that election officials did not provide any written or formal notification explaining these restrictions, calling the actions "contrary to the principles of free, fair, and acceptable elections."
