Imtiaz Ahmed, Narayanganj

Only a few months remain before the 13th National Parliamentary Elections. As part of its preparations, the Election Commission (EC) has already started publishing draft lists of polling centres across different districts. Narayanganj is no exception. The district election office has released the draft list of polling centres for the five constituencies of this industrial city and politically sensitive district.

According to the circular signed by the District Election Officer, the number of polling centres in Narayanganj’s five constituencies now stands at 795, with 4,589 booths. In the 12th National Election, there were 782 centres and 4,418 booths. That means 13 new centres and 171 new booths have been added.

If anyone has objections to the draft list of polling centres by constituency, they must submit them to the District Election Officer by September 25. All objections will be resolved by October 12, and the final list of polling centres will be published on October 20, said Additional District Election Officer Md. Rakibuzzaman.

He stated, “The draft list of polling centres for the five constituencies of Narayanganj has already been published. For the 13th National Election, the number of centres has increased by 13, and the number of booths by 171.”

Objections must be filed by September 25. The Election Commission is working with the aim of announcing the election schedule in early December and holding the election in early February.

According to the draft voter list released by the District Election Office, Narayanganj currently has 2,359,788 registered voters—1,195,748 male and 1,164,022 female voters. Before the 12th National Election, the total number of voters in Narayanganj’s five constituencies was 2,255,060. In other words, the number of voters has increased by about 104,700 in the last five years. Most of this increase comes from young first-time voters.

The deadline to file objections to the draft polling centre list is September 25. Those objections will be resolved by October 12, and the final list will be published on October 20. The District Election Officer said, “This time we are trying to make centres more accessible and safer for voters. That’s why some new centres have been opened, while some existing ones have been relocated.”

Constituency Breakdown (Source: District Election Office, Narayanganj): Narayanganj-1 (Rupganj): 404,000 voters, 128 centres, 763 booths. This area includes one of the largest industrial belts in the country. Garment workers play a crucial role here.

Narayanganj-2 (Araihazar): 359,000 voters, 117 centres, 706 booths. Historically a BNP stronghold, the last election saw intense competition. With new voters added, this time the race could be even tighter.

Narayanganj-3 (Sonargaon–Siddhirganj): 363,000 voters, 143 centres, 753 booths. As the site of Bengal’s ancient capital, this constituency always attracts attention. Several new centres have been opened in rural areas here.

Narayanganj-4 (Fatullah): 718,000 voters, 231 centres, 1,362 booths. Known for its industrial belt and labour politics. Ensuring security around centres along the Dhaka–Narayanganj highway is always a challenge.

Narayanganj-5 (City & Bandar): 514,000 voters, 175 centres, 1,005 booths. This constituency is a major hotspot in national politics, with a mix of business communities, labour, river transport, and urban voters creating a complex equation.

Compared with the 12th National Election (early 2024), the 13th shows clear differences: 100,000 more voters, 13 more centres, and 171 more booths. Most of the expansion is in urban and industrially dense areas, especially in Fatullah, Siddhirganj, and Rupganj.

As per EC rules, after publication of the draft list, objections can be filed by the public, political parties, or candidates. Political circles are already voicing dissatisfaction over some centres’ locations. Disputes are particularly intense in industrial and slum-heavy areas, where moving or setting up new centres has triggered controversy.

Elections in Narayanganj always demand extra caution. The combination of city, port, and industrial zones makes the environment complicated. On one side is fierce political competition, on the other, a large labour population. For the district administration and law enforcement, ensuring security on election day is always tough.

Past experiences show that in areas like Chashara, Fatullah, Bandar, and Siddhirganj, incidents such as polling centre takeovers, clashes, and even arson have occurred. This time, the EC has taken additional precautions in determining centre distribution.

Nearly 100,000 new voters have been added in Narayanganj, most of them young. Analysts believe these young voters could play a crucial role in the coming election. Many of them will be voting for the first time. They tend to prioritize issues like new leadership, development, and job opportunities. As a result, traditional political equations may shift.

Narayanganj is always a national political “hotspot.” Each constituency here carries prestige for political parties. Narayanganj-4 and 5 are traditional strongholds of BNP and Awami League. Narayanganj-2 and 3 are highly competitive, swinging between the two parties. Narayanganj-1 (Rupganj) has long alternated between BNP and Awami League, but local factional rivalries are a major factor.

The role of BNP, Jamaat, and other opposition groups will also be a decisive factor in shaping the electoral atmosphere.

The EC has announced that the election schedule will be released in early December, with polling in early February. Ahead of that, voter list updates, centre determination, the choice of EVM or ballot, and security arrangements will all be finalized step by step.

Observers say Narayanganj always carries special importance in elections. The increase in voters, centres, and booths is not just a matter of statistics—it signals a tougher contest and a greater challenge for security management. Political parties have already begun warming up the field. But for voters, the main expectation remains: being able to cast their votes in a safe and fair environment. All eyes are now on who raises objections to the draft list, and what changes appear in the final one.