Physical difficulties didn't stop them from casting votes
From crutches to walking sticks, voters with mobility challenges braved the infrastructure to cast their ballots in the 13th national election.
Voters across the nation showed enthusiasm today (12 February) while casting their ballots in the 13th national parliamentary election and referendum.
From early morning, people with physical difficulties also came to exercise their voting rights. While some happily cast their votes, others faced challenges accessing polling centres.
Mohammad Ershad, a 42-year-old vegetable vendor from Chattogram-10 constituency, cast his vote today despite suffering a recent leg injury, marking his participation in a national election after missing the previous three.
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He walked several hundred yards on crutches to enter the Omargani M.E.S. College polling centre and exercise his voting rights. Ershad arrived with his leg still bandaged from an accident earlier this month.
Speaking to The Business Standard, Ershad said, "I couldn't vote in the last 15 years. Even though my leg is broken, I came to vote this time. It feels good to cast my own vote."
Shannu Matbar (67), an elderly voter from Dhaka-2 constituency, came to vote at the Madhurchar Government Primary School polling centre in Keraniganj with the help of a walking stick.
Speaking to our correspondent after casting his vote, he said he was pleased to vote early in the morning without any trouble and expressed hope that his chosen candidate would emerge victorious.
Momtaz Begum, a 70-year-old voter from the same centre, was carried on the shoulders of two people due to pain in both legs. She came from Boyati Kandi to exercise her voting rights.
After casting her vote, she expressed joy at being able to support her preferred candidate despite her physical difficulties.
However, the situation was not the same everywhere, as some voters with physical difficulties reported challenges in reaching polling stations.
The Business Standard visited several areas and spoke with voters with physical disabilities. They said that although their participation is often highlighted during election-time discussions, actual infrastructural preparations remain inadequate.
They alleged that lack of support and limited accessibility discourage many from coming to polling centres.
During visits to several areas in Dhaka, The Business Standard found that many polling centres had been set up on the second or third floors of school buildings, without ramps or lift facilities. Entrances were often too narrow for wheelchair users, staircases were steep, and support staff were largely absent.
In many cases, limited space inside centres also made it difficult for voters to move around, even to reach voting rooms.
At Sutrapur Community Centre, where voting was arranged on the second floor, Ayesha Begum, a woman in her forties with a broken leg, was seen sitting on the staircase after failing to reach the polling station.
Nearly 70-year-old Zahura Begum also came to the same centre.
"I became breathless while climbing up. I'm feeling uneasy now. It's very difficult to go back down as well," she said.
At the Farashganj Sporting Club polling centre, a voter in his sixties with paralysis in his left leg was seen struggling to climb the stairs to cast his vote.
Similar incidents were observed throughout many centres of the country.
