BNP candidate for Dhaka-11, MA Quayum, said voter turnout was high in the morning but slowed later, blaming propaganda for the decline.
He made the remarks to TIMES of Bangladesh after casting his vote at Badda High School centre at around 8:50am on Thursday.
“Voters came in large numbers in the morning. At this stage, it has slowed somewhat. I think various propaganda has caused the turnout to decline. After hearing from those who have already voted, others may come again,” Quayum said.
He expressed hope that voters would turn up in large numbers later in the day, as many people are getting the opportunity to vote after a long time. He also said his party symbol, sheaf of paddy, would win if polling continued smoothly.
Badda High School centre falls under the Dhaka-11 constituency and has 2,439 registered voters. After 8:30am, a queue of voters was seen inside the centre.
Police and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members were deployed at the centre to maintain law and order. However, no army personnel were seen there.
A voter, Israt Jahan Setu, 27, who cast her ballot at the same centre, told TIMES that she entered the centre without any trouble. She said false information circulating on social media did not influence her decision to vote.
