Tamim casts first vote at 36, says 'voting is going well'

Former Bangladesh national cricket team captain Tamim Iqbal has cast his first vote at the age of 36. He said voting is taking place in a calm and hassle-free environment.

Tamim cast his vote at booth 19 of the Regional Public Administration centre in the Chattogram-9 constituency at 11:20 am on Thursday, February 12. The star cricketer spoke to journalists after voting.

Tamim said, "I cast my first vote in life. Voting is going well. I gave one vote to my preferred candidate."

He was accompanied by an army protocol when entering the polling centre. On the voting environment, he said the atmosphere is healthy and expressed hope that everyone will be able to vote without hindrance.

A crowd of local voters and youths gathered outside the centre to catch a glimpse of Tamim and take photographs. Many were busy clicking selfies with him on their mobile phones.

Election officials said voting has been peaceful since morning at this and other centres. The Chattogram-9 constituency comprises Kotwali, Chandgaon and Double Mooring areas.

The constituency has a total of 4,16,363 voters. Among them, 2,13,906 are male, 2,02,448 are female, and nine are third gender voters.

Nine candidates are contesting in the Chattogram-9 constituency. They are—Mohammad Abu Sufian of BNP, Dr AKM Fazlul Haque of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Abdul Momen Chowdhury of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JSD, Abdus Shukkur of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Muhammad Wahed Murad of Islami Front Bangladesh, Md Nurul Absar Majumdar of Nagorik Oikya, Md Shafi Uddin Kabir of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal, Md Haider Ali of Jantader Dal, Mohammad Naim Uddin of Insaniyat Biplob Bangladesh, and Syed Mohammad Hasan Maruf of Ganashonghati Andolan.