Voter Hassles at Dhanmondi Centre as IDs Don’t Match Lists

At a polling station in Dhaka’s Dhanmondi area, several voters experienced significant confusion on Thursday morning due to discrepancies between their voter identification details and the official records. The issue arose at the Dhanmondi Government Girls’ School polling centre, where names and photographs in the voter list did not correspond for some individuals.

By 8:15 a.m., at least eight voters had approached the presiding officer, seeking assistance to resolve the problem. However, the presiding officer was unable to provide immediate solutions.

First-time voter Jarin Ara recounted her experience: “I had downloaded my voter ID details and the polling centre information from the official app. But when I arrived, my name and photograph did not match the records. The presiding officer told me there was nothing he could do.”

Senior voter Shirin Ahmed, similarly affected, said, “I came to cast my vote with great anticipation, but now I find myself in difficulty. Nothing matches—neither my name nor my photograph. I don’t know what to do next.”

Another voter, Bilkis Nahar, expressed her frustration: “After waiting so long to participate in an election, it is extremely disheartening to face this confusion. No one seems able to guide me on resolving the issue.”

The presiding officer at the centre, Nur Hossain, told Prothom Alo: “Not everyone is affected. Only certain individuals are encountering these mismatches. I have already contacted the election commission officials responsible for this area. They confirmed that the voter list at the polling station is up-to-date. If details do not match, we cannot allow voting.”

Despite these issues, many voters were able to cast their ballots without difficulty. Several left the polling station visibly elated, taking selfies and photographs to commemorate the moment. Some voters arrived in groups with family members, capturing memories of the day alongside their voting experience.

The table below summarises the reported discrepancies at this polling station:

Election officials emphasise that voters facing such mismatches should report to the authorities promptly, although solutions at the polling station remain limited. Meanwhile, the day continued with many voters expressing joy at participating in the electoral process, capturing moments of democratic engagement for posterity.