Polling time likely to extend by 2hrs if necessary: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal has said that keeping in mind the presence of voters and variuos issues, the voting time will be extended by two hours if necessary.

He said this while addressing the press on Saturday afternoon, a few hours before the 12th national elections.

He said: "Usually, polling will continue till 4pm on Sunday. But, keeping in mind several issues, including voters presence, the commission has decided to extend it till 6pm if necessary."

The balloting will begin at 8am and continue till 4pm without any break at 261,912 polling booths in 42,024 voting centres across the country.

EC officials said 119,689,289 voters, including 67,609,741 male, 58,918,699 female and 849 transgender, will vote to elect 299 members of parliament out of 300 as the EC earlier postponed the elections to Naogaon-2 due to independent candidate Aminul Islam's death.

The ballot papers and other polling materials, including stamp pads, official seals, marking seals, are being sent to returning officers (ROs) offices.

However, the EC, for the first time in the election history of the country, decided to send ballot papers to polling stations in the morning of voting day except 2,964 centres in the country's remote areas as ballots to these centres will be sent by Saturday.

A total of 1,970 candidates, including 1,534 from 28 political parties and 436 independents, are vying in the polls.

Of the candidates, 266 from the ruling Awami League (AL), 265 from Jatiya Party (JaPa), 135 from Trinomul BNP, 66 from Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JaSad), 122 from National People's Party (NPP), 13 from Jatiya Party (JP) and 10 from Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh are contesting in the polls.