Election candidates arrange free rides for voters in Dhaka-5, but find few takers

In a bid to boost the turnout, candidates in the Dhaka-5 constituency mobilised a fleet of battery-run rickshaws and autorickshaws to transport voters to polling centres on election day, reports bdnews24.com.

Md Mamun, the driver of a rickshaw hired by independent candidate Kamrul Hasan Ripon, said he started taking passengers early on Sunday but ended up only taking 15-20 voters to the polling centres.

The voters did not have to pay for the rides, but they had to arrange transport for returning home after casting ballots as the rickshaw pullers were in a rush to get new voters from the specific area.

Mamun said the agents of 'eagle' candidate Ripon did not fix his wage, but he hopes for good pay for the service.