The streets in the capital which usually bustle with people even on the weekends took almost an empty look on Saturday as thousands of people left the capital as Bangladesh goes to 11th parliamentary elections on Sunday.

The streets in the capital which usually bustle with people even on the weekends took almost an empty look on Saturday as thousands of people left the capital as Bangladesh goes to 11th parliamentary elections on Sunday.
Many of them went to their village homes for exercising their voting rights while some others to spend holidays taking advantage of a three-day holiday as December 30 (Sunday) was declared holiday for the election along with the two-day weekly holidays.
Very few buses, cars and rickshaws were seen plying city streets in the morning.
Besides, plying of motorcycles, except those of journalists, remained restricted since December 28 midnight.
Visiting different areas of the capital, including Sadarghat, Bangshal, Gulistan, Farmgate, Motijheel, Moghbazar, Mohakhali and Gulshan, UNB correspondents found that the members of law enforcement agencies at various intersections of the city were checking vehicles and motorbikes for documents.
Even buses which usually remain overcrowded were seen plying with a very few passengers.
Ashish Kumar Dey, general secretary of National Committee to Protect Shipping, Roads and Railways said, ‘There’s no statistics how many people left Dhaka ahead of the national election but the number would be higher than the previous years.’
‘More than half of voters in Dhaka city are the voters of rural areas. So, they’re leaving the capital to exercise their voting right,’ he said.
Election Commission, meanwhile, has completed its preparations to hold the general election on Sunday.
Amid tight security with the deployment of over 7 lakh security members across the country, the voting in the election will be held from 8:00am to 4:00pm without any break.

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