In the recently held 12th parliamentary election, there were a total of 740 voters in a polling booth at Bayazid Bostami Cantonment Board High School under Chattogram-5 (part of Hathazari-city). Only 8 votes were cast in the centre. Unfortunately, one of these eight votes was cancelled. Voting at this center was only one percent. In sharp contrast, 80 percent voting took place at North Sadek Nagar Government Primary School polling station in the same constituency. 20.85 percent voting took place at 146 polling stations in this constituency.
98 percent voting took place at Mazharul Uloom Gausia Fazil Madrasa polling center in Chattogram-2 constituency. Out of total 4,094 votes, 4,015 were cast at the centre. Out of the total votes cast, 1078 votes were cancelled. Presiding Officer Mohammad Asadullah Khalid said that these ballot papers have been canceled due to fraudulent voting and there is no signature on these ballot papers. Voting was between 10 to 19 percent at 9 polling stations in this constituency. 33 percent voting took place at 142 centers in the constituency.
Such a huge difference in voter turnout can be seen at different polling stations in the constituencies of Chattogram. Turnout was unusually high at some polling stations while strangely low at some others. The defeated candidates alleged fraudulent voting and various electoral irregularities at centers where turnout was very high.
This trend of voting has been revealed by the Election Commission after analyzing the centre-wise results.
Among the 16 parliamentary seats of Chattogram, Chattogram-11 (Bandar Patenga) witnessed the lowest turnout. There was 20.45 percent voting here. Chattogram-6 (Raozan) seat saw the highest turnout of 73 percent, followed by Chattogram-7 (Rangunia) at 69 percent. Awami League candidates had no strong contenders in Ravzan, Rangunia, Chattogram-9 (Kotwali-Bakalia), Chattogram-13 (Anowara) and Chattogram-4 (Sitakunda). Still, voting was high on these seats.
