Barrister Rumin Farhana, an independent candidate for Brahmanbaria-2 constituency, cast her ballot shortly before 9 am. Asked about the voting atmosphere, she said, “It’s only 9 am, and voting will continue until 4:30 pm.”

She alleged that two supporters were detained overnight without cause. “My workers were guarding the area last night. Two of them were picked up for no reason,” she said. She said she met the deputy commissioner in the morning, adding, “I felt he had been misinformed.”

The independent candidate said she had submitted to the deputy commissioner’s office and the police a list of eight centres she described as “extremely high-risk”. She cited reports of a “ploy to fraudulently stamp ballot papers” at those locations.

“I have sent the names of the vulnerable centres,” Farhana added.