Reporter's account: No fights, no fear – low turnout but high spirits at Dhaka-12 centres

Dilu Road under the Dhaka-12 constituency wore a festive look from early morning today (12 February), with political activists busy assisting voters with their voter slips at campaign booths.

At least 10 voter facilitation booths are set up within half a kilometre on Dilu Road. Political workers from different parties appear to be in a peaceful mood.

If anyone unknown comes to the campaign booths, everyone seems eager to help them find their voting centre and voter slip.

However, voter presence till 11am was relatively low, with 4% to 15% of votes cast at different centres.

Police inside the polling centres seem to be spending time in a relaxed mood as there is no political chaos in the area.

At least 10 voter facilitation booths are set up within half a kilometre on Dilu Road. Photo: TBS

Political workers were busy having tea, jhalmuri, cigarettes and street food while gossiping with each other in a festive mood.

Street vendors gathered around campaign booths, expecting good business.

While speaking to this reporter, Rokeya Khatun, a middle-aged housewife who came to vote at Provati Uchya Biddyaniketon under Dhaka-12, says she feels the environment in her area is peaceful.

"I never miss my voting rights and came early to vote so that nobody can steal my vote," she said.

Provati Uchya Biddyaniketon, which is a women's voting centre, appears to have very few voters coming to cast their ballots.

The presiding officer at the centre told this reporter that only 4% of votes were cast till 10am out of 2,407 female voters.

Sharing his voting experience, Newaj Uddin, 50, who cast his vote at 10:30am at AG Church School under the Dhaka-12 constituency, said the voting system is very peaceful and disciplined.

Regarding the referendum vote, he said he cast his vote to ensure freedom of speech.

Abdul Hannan, a man in his sixties, comes to accompany two female family members to cast their votes.

He had already cast his vote in the Moghbazar area but came to AG Church School to accompany his family members and observe the voting.

In a light-hearted mood, he said people in this area wake up late, adding that voter presence will increase in the afternoon.

Abdullah Al Mamun, the presiding officer at AG Church School, reported a 5.1% voter turnout as of 10:30am, with less than 150 out of 2,466 registered voters having cast their ballots.

"The environment is peaceful, and there is no chaos, though turnout has been low so far," he said.

All the polling centres on Dilu Road and in Moghbazar appear to be full of polling agents who are spending time chatting due to low voter presence till 10am.

Kayum, a street vendor selling jhalmuri, was busy amid a crowd of political workers around the polling centre.

Speaking to this reporter, he said the crowd is not as large as he expected in the morning.

He started business early to catch election customers, but sales remain low due to low voter presence.

Urmi Haque, a middle-aged political activist of a Dhaka-12 candidate, stands in front of a campaign booth wearing a burqa. When asked whether there is any fear of attack from the opposition, she said there is no fear or hostile attitude.

Activists of all candidates were working together in the area and no one is bullying others, creating a peaceful environment, she said.