Narayanganj by-poll ends

Voting in the Narayanganj-5 by-poll has ended without any major incident.

Preliminary estimates suggest a 40 percent voter turnout, election officials say.

Returning Officer Mihir Sarwar Morshed said voting ended at 4pm Thursday.

Police and para-military personnel had been on duty at polling centres to prevent trouble. The authorities deployed 20 additional policemen in each of the 98 sensitive polling stations.

Moreover, there were 22 mobile police teams and 18 mobile RAB teams keeping a watch on the situation. Border Guard Bangladesh personnel were also stationed at the centres.

The seat fell vacant following the death of Opposition Jatiya Party (JP) MP Nasim Osman on Apr 30.

The ruling Awami League decided to leave the seat to the JP. Nasim’s brother Selim Osman is contesting as the JP candidate.

Former Awami League leader SM Akram is fighting as an independent candidate.

Krishak-Shramik Janata League aspirant Shafiqul Islam Delwar and independent candidate Mamun Sirajul Majid are also in the fray.

The constituency has about 350,000 voters and 141 polling stations.

Osman could not vote as he is not listed under of this constituency.

The Election Commission adopted stringent security measures to ensure smooth voting amid apprehensions following the recent abduction and murder of seven people in Narayanganj City.