UNB, Kurigram :
Voting in 22 union parishads (UPs) where residents of some 100 ex-Indian enclaves exercised their voting right for the first time ended on Monday peacefully amid much enthusiasm. The voting that began at 8am concluded at 4pm with a high turnout of voters, including women, at all poling stations. But, the polling in 380 more UPs across the country that was simultaneously held yesterday also closed at 4pm amid various irregularities and sporadic violence. Long queues were seen at polling centres in ex-enclaves here as unaccustomed voters were taking a bit longer time than it was needed to cast votes. Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Dakhil Madrasah polling centre in Phulbari union was unique as all of its voters were residents of former enclaves. Of the 786 voters, 726 exercised their franchise at the centre as its voter turnout was 92.50 percent. The presence of female voters were higher than their male counterparts at the centre as 94 percent women cast their votes against 91 percent by men, said presiding officer of the centre Md Raihan Uddin Sarkar. Kulsum Banu, 84, of Dashiarchhara, was taking time before entering the booth of the polling station at Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Dakhil Madrasah as the process was something very alien to her.
Although the polling officers concerned were repeatedly showing her how to cast vote, a hesitant Kulsum took time in entering the booth. Emerging from the polling station, a relieved Kulsum said, “This is first time I cast my vote in my life. We feel pleased and good. I’ve felt difficulties in casting vote as I didn’t know how to do it.” Like octogenarian Kulsum, many women and men of ex-enclaves took extra time in casting votes due to their inexperience. Polling officer Nideep Kumar Ray said, “We showed the voters the process several times as they never in the past exercised their voting right. Despite that many have taken additional time in casting their votes.” Another octogenarian female voter, Saheba Begum, along with her daughter in-law went to the polling station to cast vote. “We faced problems in casting the vote as we never cast vote,” she said.
Saheba, however, said she was happy being able to cast vote. Talking to UNB, Amzad Ali, 50, also expressed his delight for being able to vote and have the feeling of ‘full liberty’. Young voter Majidul, 21, said he was very excited as he could vote in his own land of Dashiarchara ex-enclave. Superintendent of Police of Kurigram Mohammad Tabarak Ullah said the people of ex-enclaves exercised their franchise after 69 years in peaceful and enthusiastic atmosphere. “So far, there has been no anomaly or violation of the election code of conduct in six UPs in 36 ex-enclaves of the district,” he told UNB.
Nearly 14,000 voters from some 100 former Indian ex-enclaves out of 111 inside three northern districts-Panchagarh, Lalmonirhat and Kurigram- were eligible to exercise their voting rights in the UP elections, according to officials at the Election Commission Secretariat. Eight of the 22 UPs are in Panchagarh, eight in Lalmonirhat and six in Kurigram. According to the Commission’s statistics, a total of 8,935 voters from ex-enclaves were to exercise their franchise in the UP elections in Panchagarh, while 1,700 voters in eight UPs in Lalmonirhat and 3,098 in six UPs in Kurigram. The 111 ex-Indian enclaves inside Bangladesh, which were merged with the mainland of Bangladesh in July 31, 2015 following the ratification of land boundary agreement (LBA) by Indian Loka Sabha and Rajya Sabha unanimously, include 12 in Kurigram, 59 in Lalmonirhat, four in Nilphamari and 36 in Panchagarh. On September 26 last, the election schedules were announced for the UPs after making the eligible inhabitants of ex-enclaves voters this year.
