KHULNA, Jan 7, 2024 (BSS) - Voting for the 12th Parliamentary Election has begun peacefully amid tight security measures and festive atmosphere with spontaneous participation of the enthusiastic voters.

The elections are being held at 4,720 polling booths of 793 polling centers of six constituencies of Khulna district from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

This reporter has visited around 30 polling centers which cover the areas of Khulna-2,3 and 4 parliamentary constituencies in Khulna.

While visiting different polling centers of the city, this reporter has talked to the presiding officers, who said the voters' turnout is satisfactory. They said there was no incident of violence till filing this report around 11.45am.

A total of 10 returning officers, 71 assistant returning officers, 4,984 presiding officers, 30,253 assistant presiding officers, and 60,506 polling agents are performing their duties according to the direction of Election Commissioner (EC).

A large number of voters, including women and aged persons, were seen standing in long queues to cast their votes spontaneously at different polling centers in the city.

Talking to the BSS, Presiding officer Shaheen Hossain of Nirala Adarsha School center in Khulna-2 constituency said around 20 percent voters in the center casted their votes till 11.30am.

Replying a question, the presiding officer said all voters of the locality were coming spontaneously and fearlessly to cast their votes and expressed his hope that the vote casting would be 50 to 60 percent at the end.

An elderly voter, Mazeda Begum, 70, came to Khulna Sonapota School Center to cast her vote this morning said, "I voted in the national election many times. This time too, I have exercised my franchise with satisfaction over the environment of the voting center".

Parveen Begum, 23, a labourer of the Khulna-3 constituency, who also cast her vote at the Iqbalnagar Girls High School, said, "I have cast my vote for the first time."

The number of voters in 10 districts is 1, 34, 46,783. Of them, 67, 46,491 are male, 67, 00,205 are female voters. The number of transgender voters is 87.

Talking to BSS after casting vote, AL backed candidates Sheikh Salah Uddin Zwel told BSS, voters are casting votes with festive mood. Environment friendly votes are prevailing in Khulna.

At least 60 to 65 percent voters will cast their votes in Khulna constituencies, he hoped.