Voter turnout lower than expected in city

EC claims 47.91pc turnout till 2:00pm across country

FE REPORT | Published: February 13, 2026 00:02:31

Voting in all 15 constituencies of Dhaka city was held in a largely peaceful atmosphere, though voter turnout appeared lower than expected, according to election officials and field observations.
The election - the first since the Gen Z-led movement that toppled the 17-year rule of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who later fled to Delhi - also included a referendum on key reforms, including a proposed two-term limit for the prime minister.
Despite the calm and orderly voting environment during the 13th national election, turnout in many Dhaka constituencies remained lower than anticipated.
The FE correspondents visited polling centres in Dhaka-8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16 and 17, where voters across age, gender and social groups were seen casting ballots and expressing satisfaction with the peaceful atmosphere.
However, presiding officers expressed surprise at the relatively modest turnout by the close of voting, despite strong participation in the morning hours.
At the Haider Ali School centre in Manda under Dhaka-9, presiding officer Jayanta Kumar Roy said about 26 per cent of votes were cast in the first four hours.
"We are expecting around 60 per cent out of 2,458 voters, by the end of the day," he told FE.
People familiar with the situation attributed the lower-than-expected turnout to lingering fear, changes in residential locations and the absence of a section of supporters of the former ruling party.
In Dhaka-9, voting took place in 169 centres with 12 candidates in the race, though the main contest centred on a few key contenders.
During visits to centres in Khilgaon, Madartek, Basaboo, Mugda, Maniknagar and Kamalapur, turnout hovered around 40 per cent at several institutions, including Khilgaon Model College and Abdul Aziz School and College.
At one centre in Abdul Aziz School, turnout exceeded 46 per cent during the visit at 2 pm.
At South Point School and College in Malibagh, presiding officer Belal Hossain said turnout stood at 31 per cent until 1:20pm.
Voters ABM Arifur Rahman and his wife Rashida Sultana said they had never experienced such a peaceful voting environment and felt safe casting their ballots.
Ummul Wara Flora at Khilgaon Model College remained at the premises to observe what she described as a festive mood surrounding the election after many years.
In Dhaka-12, the Provati School centre at Dilu Road recorded about 25 per cent turnout by 12:30pm, despite having the highest number of registered voters and 15 candidates contesting.
Three candidates shared similar names - Md Syful Alam of Jamaat-e-Islami, independent Md Syful Alam Nirob and Syful Huq of Gono Sanghoti - though voters said they were not confused.
At BG Press Government Primary School, turnout rose from 7 per cent at 9:30am to 34 per cent by 2:30pm, eventually closing at around 38 per cent, according to presiding officer Jahid.
Another centre at the Polytechnic Institute recorded about 32 per cent turnout by late afternoon.
Polling in Dhaka-14, 15 and 16 was also peaceful, with moderate morning participation at centres including MDC Model School and College and Shaheed Muktijoddha Girls High School.
A 58-year-old voter at Monipur High School and College said she came mainly to cast a "Yes" vote in the referendum.
At MI Model School in Pallabi under Dhaka-16, 650 votes were cast at one centre out of 2,088 registered voters, while another centre recorded 900 votes out of 2,711 by 3:30pm.
Overall turnout at another centre in the same constituency reached 44 per cent by that time.
Across 16 centres visited in Dhaka-16, turnout was initially low in the morning but improved later.
Officials at centres including Usha Shikhya Niketon, MDC Model Institute and Monipur High School reported turnout rising from about 10 per cent in the early hours to roughly 30 per cent by mid-afternoon.
In upscale Gulshan and Banani, turnout remained comparatively low and was dominated by middle-aged and elderly voters.
Polling officials reported no long queues at centres such as Gulshan Model School and Banani Bidyaniketan, with turnout in some centres around 25 per cent by 3:00pm.
Polling agents said the low turnout, particularly among younger voters, might be due to migration or relocation.
In contrast, participation was noticeably stronger near the Korail slum area, where many women voted alongside family members and celebrated by taking photos after casting ballots.
Md Jamal, a rickshaw puller from Korail, said residents were enthusiastic as many had been unable to vote in the past three elections.
First-time voters Ms. Sumaya Sultana and Mahmuda Akhter, carrying their children, said they were excited after casting ballots.
"This is the first time we voted. We feel hopeful," Sultana told FE.
The voter turnout reached 47.91 percent at 36,031 polling centres across the country till 2:00 pm, senior Secretary of the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat Akhtar Ahmed told the journalists at 4:15 pm at the Nirbachon Bhabon at Agargaon area here.