At least 54.58 per cent of voters in Dhaka metropolitan area are not living in the address where they were registered as voters, finds a survey.
There are 16 constituencies in Dhaka city and 57,50,504 voters are expected to cast votes to elect their representatives in the 12th parliamentary election on Sunday.
The study cited a number of reasons for the lower presence of voters in their respective constituencies, including leaving Dhaka after the Covid-19 pandemic and economic recession, change of profession, purchasing flats in other areas, demolition of slums, and returning to village homes being not able to find a suitable work etc.
The survey conducted by election observer Jatiya Nirbachon Parjobekkhon Parishad (JANIPOP) to observe the voters’ presence in Dhaka metropolitan area showed that 54.58 per cent voters were unidentified. Moreover, living voters and living voters who have not changed their address was 44.57 per cent and 35.88 per cent respectively.
It said that the number of unidentified voters was the highest in Dhaka-12 constituency with 61.45 per cent where minimum was 50.51 per cent in Dhaka-9 constituency. The lowest percentage of living voters was in Dhaka-12 constituency (37.81 per cent) and the highest percentage was found in Dhaka 9- constituency (48.42 per cent).
The lowest percentage of living voters who have not changed their address was found in Dhaka-12 constituency (30.62 per cent) while the highest was 40.33 per cent.
The percentage of dead, expatriate, bedridden and physically and mentally challenged voters was 1.87 per cent, 0.42 per cent, 0.46 per cent and 0.40 per cent respectively.
The study covered 151,037 voters of 16 constituencies and it was a face-to-face survey along with a structured questionnaire.
