Dhaka streets largely empty amid tight security as people leave city to vote
Roads across the city saw fewer cars, CNG auto-rickshaws and buses, while passenger numbers on public transport, including the metro rail, dropped significantly.
Dhaka witnessed unusually light traffic and thin crowds today (11 February) amid heightened security, a day before the 13th national election and the July Charter referendum, as many residents left the capital to vote in their home constituencies and movement restrictions came into force.
Roads across the city saw fewer cars, CNG auto-rickshaws and buses, while passenger numbers on public transport, including the metro rail, dropped significantly.
With today and tomorrow (12 February) declared general holidays for the election, many residents travelled out of Dhaka yesterday (10 February) and continued leaving the city today.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Gone were the familiar crowds, long queues and rush to board metro rail services.
At Agargaon and Shahbagh stations, passenger numbers were noticeably low, leaving officials and staff engaged in passenger service with reduced workloads during the election holiday.
Public transport operators reported fewer passengers on buses across major routes.
Some commuters faced difficulty finding transport as services operated with reduced frequency due to low demand and election-related movement restrictions.
Motorcycle movement has been prohibited nationwide from midnight on 10 February until midnight on 13 February as part of election security measures, contributing further to the quieter streets.
Law enforcement agencies have intensified patrols across the capital.
Checkposts have been set up at key intersections, including Shahbagh, Hatirjheel, Kawran Bazar, Rampura, Farmgate, Mirpur, Banani, Gulshan, Badda and Uttara.
Officers were seen stopping vehicles, conducting searches and questioning individuals at various points throughout the city.
At Shahbagh, considered a key area in the capital, police stopped private cars and motorcycles upon arrival and carried out security checks.
Officials said the measures aim to maintain order and prevent any untoward incidents ahead of polling day.
Residents described an unusually quiet atmosphere in the city. Tofazzal Hossain, a Dhaka resident, said he had never seen the capital so deserted, even during major holidays.
"The city seems like a ghost city, and empty. Most of the people who are voters in districts and hometowns have already left Dhaka with enthusiasm," he told The Business Standard.
Some voters were still trying to travel to their constituencies.
Ratul Piul, 26, a first-time voter, said he struggled to find a CNG auto-rickshaw in the Baridhara area and had to wait around 30 minutes before securing a ride.
"I am going to vote for the first time. I came to Dhaka for work purposes. Now going to my hometown, Cumilla, I'm not sure whether I will be able to get a bus ticket. I might have to take local transport, and it will take long hours to arrive in Cumilla," he said.
Amid the travel rush ahead of the election, passengers alleged yesterday that transport owners and workers were charging extra fares as hundreds of thousands of people left Dhaka to return to their hometowns or villages. However, transport operators denied the allegations of overcharging.
Bangladeshis will cast their ballots tomorrow in what promises to be one of the country's most consequential elections. Voting will be held from 7:30am to 4:30pm across 299 constituencies. The BNP has fielded the most candidates, with 291 contesting under the sheaf of paddy symbol, while Jamaat has nominated 229 candidates under the scale symbol.
The BNP is confident of victory, with activists energised and constituency-level preparations and agent appointments complete. Jamaat is focused on a peaceful vote and high turnout, coordinating with constituency managers to ensure voters can cast ballots freely and fairly.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam said yesterday that 8,770 polling centres had been identified as risky ahead of the election, adding that a three-tier security system would be in place at every centre.
According to the IGP, there are a total of 42,779 polling centres across the country.
Some 127,711,899 voters are to cast their votes in the 13th general election and the July Charter referendum scheduled to be held tomorrow, according to Election Commission (EC) sources, reports BSS.
EC data show that of them, 64,825,154 are male and 62,885,525 female, while 1,220 belong to the third gender.
The EC recently cancelled the election in Sherpur-3 constituency following the death of the Jamaat candidate. As a result, voting will be held in 299 constituencies, instead of 300.
