Law enforcers help elderly citizens in casting votes
Tuesday, 30 December 2008
Jasim Uddin Haroon
City's elderly citizens received unprecedented care from law enforcing agencies and officials when they arrived at the polling centres to cast their votes in Monday's parliamentary elections.
They did not wait in the queue as they were guided into the booths by the people on polls duty.
Abdul Mazid, aged 84, told the FE that he entered into the centre without standing in the queue at a centre in Bangshal area.
"The law enforcing officials helped me get into the booth and the polling officials took special care while I cast my vote," Mazid told the FE after emerging his vote at the city's Bangshal Primary School.
Presiding officials at city's different polling centres said that the number of elderly people was comparatively was higher this year mainly due to the improvement of law and order.
"We have seen a large number of senior voters at my centre since early morning," said Sekandhar Hawladar, presiding officer at Banglabazar Girls High School.
Alauddin Bepari (72) told the FE that he never saw such peaceful atmosphere in any previous election.
"I have been casting vote since Pakistan period, but this is an unprecedented situation prevailing in and around the polling centres," Alauddin added.
He also said: "Presiding officer himself helped me enter into the booth."
Motiur Rahman, an elderly citizen at Lalbagh told the FE that he could cast his vote at Islambagh Madrasha saying the voter ID cards with photograph helped prevent confusion in voting.
"I was sure that none will be able to cast false vote. So, I came at noon and cast my vote," Matiur added.
"The environment surrounding the centres was good. Earlier, we saw chaos in the area. And I came to vote after I heard about the peaceful situation," he said.
Gopal Chandra Saha, a presiding officer at St Josef Industrial School at Narinda told the FE they were giving special treatment to elderly people following directives from the Election Commission.
Abdur Razzak, a 60-year old voter, at Maniknagar primary School told that he enjoyed much in the election. He claimed that this was the best election he had ever seen.
City's elderly citizens received unprecedented care from law enforcing agencies and officials when they arrived at the polling centres to cast their votes in Monday's parliamentary elections.
They did not wait in the queue as they were guided into the booths by the people on polls duty.
Abdul Mazid, aged 84, told the FE that he entered into the centre without standing in the queue at a centre in Bangshal area.
"The law enforcing officials helped me get into the booth and the polling officials took special care while I cast my vote," Mazid told the FE after emerging his vote at the city's Bangshal Primary School.
Presiding officials at city's different polling centres said that the number of elderly people was comparatively was higher this year mainly due to the improvement of law and order.
"We have seen a large number of senior voters at my centre since early morning," said Sekandhar Hawladar, presiding officer at Banglabazar Girls High School.
Alauddin Bepari (72) told the FE that he never saw such peaceful atmosphere in any previous election.
"I have been casting vote since Pakistan period, but this is an unprecedented situation prevailing in and around the polling centres," Alauddin added.
He also said: "Presiding officer himself helped me enter into the booth."
Motiur Rahman, an elderly citizen at Lalbagh told the FE that he could cast his vote at Islambagh Madrasha saying the voter ID cards with photograph helped prevent confusion in voting.
"I was sure that none will be able to cast false vote. So, I came at noon and cast my vote," Matiur added.
"The environment surrounding the centres was good. Earlier, we saw chaos in the area. And I came to vote after I heard about the peaceful situation," he said.
Gopal Chandra Saha, a presiding officer at St Josef Industrial School at Narinda told the FE they were giving special treatment to elderly people following directives from the Election Commission.
Abdur Razzak, a 60-year old voter, at Maniknagar primary School told that he enjoyed much in the election. He claimed that this was the best election he had ever seen.