Despite allegations of overnight violence and incidents of intimidation in some areas, National Citizen Party (NCP) spokesperson and chairman of its Central Election Steering Committee, Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuiyan, has said that he expects the elections to be peaceful overall despite some minor allegations of violence.
He cast his vote in the Dhaka-10 constituency at the Government Laboratory High School centre in the capital’s New Market area at around 9:30am on Thursday.
Emerging after casting his vote and speaking with journalists, Asif Mahmud said, “If we think about it, an election is finally being held again in Bangladesh after 2008.” He claimed, “Although there was some violence and intimidation in certain places last night, voting is going on relatively well since morning.”
He added, “I expect that people will be able to exercise their vote freely throughout the day.”
Noting that he could not vote in the previous two elections, he said, “I was a voter in the previous two elections but could not vote. This is the first time I have been able to vote.”
Highlighting the participation of young voters as an important aspect of this election, he said, “This seems to be the first voting experience for around four crore young. These young voters, and those who have been deprived of voting rights for so long, they will determine who gets elected.”
Calling upon those responsible for ensuring safe voting for everyone, Asif Mahmud said, “We have repeatedly been demanding that the people across the country, who are going to vote with enthusiasm, wanting to exercise their right, can all vote fairly, return home safely, and so that the election is held peacefully in every place.”
