Voting is underway at Noakhali District Jail ahead of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election, with 42 inmates casting their ballots through the postal voting system.
Two voting rooms have been set up inside the jail to facilitate the process, prison authorities said.
Jail Superintendent and presiding officer for the election Md Abdul Barek confirmed the matter on Thursday.
“Voting through postal ballots began at 8am,” he said, adding that 44 inmates were initially enlisted to vote.
“However, two inmates are currently held in other jails due to cases, so the remaining 42 inmates are voting here,” he said.
He also said inmates eligible to vote were instructed to complete breakfast and remain ready before 8am.
“After voting is completed, the ballots will be sent to the district returning officer in line with Election Commission instructions,” he added.
Prison authorities said Noakhali District Jail currently houses 941 inmates, but only 44 applied to vote through postal ballots, accounting for 4.7 per cent of the total prison population.
Many inmates were unwilling to apply for postal ballots in the hope of securing bail before the February 12 polling day, as inmates who apply for postal voting and later receive bail are not allowed to vote at polling centres.
