As the 12th National Parliamentary Election unfolds in Bangladesh, Dhaka’s typically bustling streets are experiencing an unusual calm and emptiness. The voting process commenced at 8 am and is scheduled to continue until 4 pm, with heightened security measures in place.
Despite the Election Commission designating the day as a general holiday to facilitate voting, the number of public transport vehicles in Dhaka is notably lower than on a typical day. Residents are resorting to walking or using rickshaws to reach their nearest polling centers, and even the availability of rickshaws is falling short of the usual count.
Various areas in Dhaka, including Bhatara, Badda, Rampura, Banani, Mohakhali, Shantinagar, Karwan Bazar, Panthopath, Kalabagan, Science Laboratory intersection, Shahbagh, and Kakrail, reflect an absence of private vehicles on the roads.
Law enforcement agencies, including the Armed Forces, are visibly present, patrolling Dhaka roads to maintain order and ensure a peaceful election process. As of now, no significant incidents have been reported in the city.
While shopping malls, markets, and shops on the main roads remain shuttered, some grocery stores in residential areas have opened their doors to the public.
In a bid to ensure a fair and peaceful election, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has imposed restrictions on vehicular movement, affecting taxis, pickup trucks, microbuses, and trucks within the Dhaka metropolitan area from midnight on January 6 until the end of January 7.
