30 percent polling in first four hours at Narayanganj city polls

Thirty percent of the electorate have voted in the first four hours of polling in the Narayanganj city corporation elections on Thursday.

Election officials expect the turnout to cross the 60 percent mark by the time polling ends.

Voting started in the 174 polling centres at 8am and will continue until 4pm.

A total 137 centres have been identified as 'vulnerable'. The result will be declared by the returning officer from his temporary office in the Narayanganj DC office.

Election officials say no untoward incident has been reported so far and polling has been peaceful.

Returning officer Nuruzzaman Talukdar told bdnews24.com: "On an average, 30 percent of the electorate has voted until 12 in the afternoon."

Election Commission secretary Mohammed Abdullah told bdnews24.com: "From what I have gathered, the turnout is encouraging. Not just the mayor candidates but also those contesting for councillor positions are active. I feel the turnout will cross the 60 percent mark."

He recalled the 69.92 percent turnout in the 2011 Narayanganj city polls which was conducted on non-party lines.

"This time, the poll is held in a festive atmosphere. There is no report of untoward incident so far. Polling has been peaceful in all centres."

Candidates of all parties have also expressed satisfaction at the conduct of the polls so far.

Agents of rival candidates were found present in the polling centres. Voting has not been interrupted anywhere so far.

Election officials said the turnout was somewhat less earlier in the day but began to pick up as the day progressed.

Though polling ends at 4pm, those who have queued up before that deadline will be allowed to cast their votes.

Both Awami League mayor candidate Selina Hayat Ivy and BNP mayor candidate Shakhawat Hossain Khan have said they will accept the people's verdict in the right spirit.