At the majority of polling stations in Tongi, nearly half of the candidates were without official agents even one and a half hours after voting commenced on Thursday morning. While some voters were present outside the centres, queues remained thin, indicating a sluggish start to the electoral process.
A visit to the Tongi Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital polling station at 9:00 a.m. revealed the full extent of the situation. The station has 5,178 registered voters, comprising 3,127 men, 2,050 women, and one voter identifying as third gender. Although polling began at 7:30 a.m., no substantial queues had formed by 9:00 a.m., with voters scattered around the premises rather than lined up to cast their ballots.
Inside the polling centre, observers found that only some candidates had agents present. Agents for candidates representing the Dhaner Shish, Shapla Kali, Hatpakha, Truck, and Fish symbols were on duty. In total, 12 candidates are contesting in the constituency, yet most rooms had agents for only four to six candidates. In many cases, agents had not displayed their candidate’s placard. When questioned, they explained that they had inadvertently left their placards at home.
The Presiding Officer of the Tongi Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master General Hospital polling station, Shaukat Hossain, told Jugantor that the agents who were present were actively performing their duties. He added that the security arrangements at the centre were robust. Regarding voter turnout statistics, he stated that figures would be recorded at two-hour intervals throughout the day.
Similar patterns were reported at other polling stations in Tongi, including Ershad Nagar, Mudafa, and Arichpur, where agents for more than half of the candidates were absent.
Polling Agent Presence at Tongi Polling Stations (as of 9:00 a.m.)
| Polling Station | Registered Voters | Agents Present (Approx.) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shaheed Ahsan Ullah Master General Hosp. | 5,178 | 4–6 per room | Some placards missing |
| Ershad Nagar | – | <50% of candidates | Dispersed voters outside |
| Mudafa | – | <50% of candidates | Voting slow; low queues |
| Arichpur | – | <50% of candidates | Security arrangements in place |
Election officials emphasised that the polling process would continue smoothly despite the absence of some agents, and authorities urged voters to come forward and cast their votes.