Since a long line of voters has to be shown on TV, locals were called and asked to form a line to provide footage for the TV cameras. Such a scene was seen in front of the Manarat International School on Thursday (Feb 28).

An inspection has shown that there aren’t any voters in many centres.

A photojournalist said, “A fake line was formed with local people which the TV reported referred to as a voters’ line.”

The sentiments of these staged voters were also recorded, added the photo journalist, saying, “After the live footage was taken, the line dispersed.”

When asked, the TV reporter said, “I am just doing my duty.”

Voting is undergoing at a total of 36 extended wards, including 18 wards under Dhaka North City Corporation and 18 under Dhaka South City Corporation from 8am on Thursday, which will continue till 4pm without any break.
A total of 382 mayor, councilor and reserved women councilor candidates are participating in the election. The four other aspirants for the mayor post are – Jatiya Party’s (JP) Shafin Ahmed, National People’s Party’s (NPP) Anisur Rahman Dewan, People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) Shahin Khan and independent candidate Abdur Rahim.
Atiqul Islam is contesting with Awami League’s ‘boat’ symbol while Shafin Ahmed with ‘plough’, Anisur Rahman Dewan with ‘Mango’, Shahin Khan with ‘Tiger’ and Abdur Rahim with ‘Table Clock’. In terms of population, the DNCC is the country’s largest city corporation area with 2.35 million voters.

The mayoral post fell vacant after the death of former mayor Annisul Huq on Nov 30, 2017.