With less than 12 hours remaining until the commencement of the 13th Parliamentary Election and referendum, a palpable electoral fervor has swept through the nation. The ambiance in Dhaka is particularly vibrant, with festive signs adorning streets, neighborhoods, and narrow pathways in anticipation of the twin polls.
Numerous city dwellers have departed Dhaka in advance of the four-day holiday to ensure they can vote in their respective constituencies. Consequently, major thoroughfares exhibit a relative calm, while internal roads and backstreets teem with activity.
The prolonged break has heightened the festive spirit for many residents, with some expressing eagerness to participate in the election after a hiatus of 17 years, deeming it a pivotal moment in their lives.
In a conversation with The Daily Star earlier today, 35-year-old Banasree resident and Dhaka-11 voter SM Fazle Rabby conveyed his anticipation for voting alongside his wife tomorrow morning. However, Rabby also voiced discontent, citing obstacles like fake votes, midnight voting, and token opposition candidates during the Awami League government’s tenure, hindering his exercise of the voting right.
Conversations about the election are widespread across Dhaka’s alleys, with a noticeable sense of curiosity and enthusiasm among not just adults but also children and teenagers, who are actively engaging in the eleventh-hour excitement surrounding the electoral process.
Explorations of various areas in the capital revealed that as the election draws near, supporters of different candidates have established booths in local alleys to offer voter information services.
In the Mohammadpur district within Dhaka-13, booths belonging to the primary contenders, BNP’s Bobby Hajjaj and the 11-party alliance’s Mamunul Haque, were prominently visible. At these booths, voters were observed arriving with keen interest, posing inquiries. Supporters were on hand to assist by verifying voter details and confirming their assigned polling stations.
At one such booth, Adabor resident Ahsanul Haque shared with The Daily Star, “Given the potential for long queues during voting, I arrived early to secure my voter slip, ensuring a seamless casting of my ballot.”
