The 13th National Parliamentary Election and referendum will be held tomorrow, Thursday, with all preparations already completed nationwide. Various measures have been taken to ensure higher voter turnout across all 300 constituencies.
In a significant development, an exceptional initiative has been undertaken in the Chandpur-4 (Faridganj) constituency, where women voters in Rupsa South Union have largely abstained from voting for the past 54 years.
Since the 1970s, following the guidance of a local pir from Jainpur, women in the union have traditionally refrained from voting in elections. Although a small number of women occasionally voted—mostly relatives of candidates—their participation remained negligible. Interestingly, women in the area actively participate in other social and economic activities, including visiting markets and engaging in daily work.
This year, however, the long-standing tradition is set to change.
To encourage women’s participation, the district administration has taken special measures at all eight polling centres in the union. A total of 10,299 female voters are registered in these centres. Authorities have arranged for voting facilities that maintain privacy in accordance with cultural norms.
According to the office of the Assistant Returning Officer in Faridganj, 20 separate booths have been set up exclusively for women voters across the eight centres. From assistant presiding officers to polling officers, all election officials assigned to these booths are women. Additionally, female members of law enforcement agencies, including police and Ansar-VDP, have been deployed, along with a female magistrate overseeing the centres.
The administration has also requested the eight contesting candidates to appoint female polling agents at the designated booths.
Assistant Returning Officer and Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Setu Kumar Barua confirmed the arrangements on Wednesday (February 11). He said the Chandpur district administration has undertaken extensive initiatives ahead of the election, including appointing female magistrates and ensuring all-female election staff to facilitate women voters’ participation.
He further added that all necessary preparations have been made to allow women to cast their votes while maintaining privacy, expressing hope that women will exercise their voting rights this time.
