Voting begins for 11th parliament
Voting for 11th national parliamentary election begins on Sunday morning amid strict security across the country.
As many as, 104,238,677 voters will get the chance to exercise their franchise to elect 299 members of parliament out of 300.
The balloting has begun at 8:00am and will continue until 4:00pm without any break.
The election in Gaibandha-3 constituency has been deferred due to the death of a candidate. The voting for the seat will be held on 27 January.
The election commission (EC) has completed all preparations to hold the elections in what it called a free, fair and peaceful manner across the country.
A total of 1,861 candidates are vying for the polls. Among them, 1,733 are from political parties and 128 independents.
The EC will take votes using Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at all polling booths in six constituencies for the first time.
The constituencies are -- Dhaka-6 and 13, Chattogram-9, Rangpur-3, Khulna-2 and Satkhira-2.
In compliance with new electoral rules, a total of 39 registered political parties are contesting the polls.
About 608,000 members of law enforcement agencies, 66 returning officers, will perform their responsibilities to conduct the elections across the country.
A total of 40,183 presiding officers, 207,312 assistant presiding officers and 414,624 polling officers have been appointed for conducting the election while about 1,328 executive magistrates and 640 judicial magistrates will work in 122 electoral inquiry committees during the polls.
A total of 272 candidates from the ruling Awami League-led grand alliance are contesting the polls with election symbol ‘Boat’.
The EC sources said a peaceful atmosphere is prevailing in the country. Securities of all the voters will be ensured at any cost on the day of balloting.
The EC and local administrations have been working relentlessly so that the voters can return to their respective residences safely after casting their votes.
All the agencies concerned, including the law-enforcement, have already started rendering their duties to make the election peaceful.