TDS Desk:

Concerns are mounting over the potential rejection of a significant number of ballots due to improper folding techniques.

Abul Bashar Chowdhury, the Gono Odhikar Parishad candidate for Dhaka-12, raised the alarm after visiting several centres in the Moghbazar area.

“I found that even some presiding and polling officers are not fully aware of the proper way to fold the ballot paper. I fear many votes may end up being rejected,” he said, noting that if a seal smudges onto a rival symbol, the vote could be declared void.

In response, Md Foyez, presiding officer at the Provati Bidya Niketon centre under Dhaka-12, stated that staff are now proactively asking voters if they require assistance with folding before they enter the booth.

Despite these procedural concerns, voter participation at the Provati Bidya Niketon centre remained steady, with approximately 18% of the 2,555 registered male voters, amounting to 461 ballots, cast by 11:30am.