Voting for the by-election for Dhaka-17 parliamentary constituency ended on Monday afternoon amid low turnout of voters and some untoward incidents.

Ruling Awami League activists allegedly assaulted independent candidate Ashraful Hossain Alam, popularly known as Hero Alam at Banani Bidya Niketan polling centre.

Another independent candidate Tarekul Islam boycotted the elections accusing Awami League of vote rigging.

Tarekul made the announcement after voting began in the morning.

The balloting began at 8:00am and it continued till 4:00pm without any break.

The voting was held with the use of traditional ballot papers in the parliamentary by-election.

Tight security measures were taken to ensure peaceful voting, authorities said.

The ministry of public administration had announced a general holiday along with restrictions on vehicular movement during the by-election in some parts of Gulshan, Banani,  Baridhara, and Cantonment areas under the Dhaka-17 constituency.

Awami League candidate Muhammad Ali Arafat is rivalled in the by-election by popular digital content maker Hero Alom, among others.

The movement of vehicles such as trucks, buses, minibuses, microbuses, jeeps, pickups, cars, and easy-bikes has been restricted in selective areas from 12:00am July 17 to 12:00am on July 18.

Also, motorbike movement has been restricted in the areas from 12:00am July 16 to July 18.

The Dhaka-17 constituency, which covers Gulshan, Banani, Cantonment, and some areas of Bhashantek and slums, including Karail and Sattala slums, at Mohakhali, fell vacant on the death of AL lawmaker Akbar Hossain Pathan, on May 15.

Eight candidates contested the by-election.

Awami League candidate Arafat received the ‘boat’ symbol, and Jatiya Party candidate Sikder Anisur Rahman received the ‘plough’ symbol.

Hero Alom contested with the symbol Ektara.

There were 3,25,205 voters in the constituency, and 1,50,580 of them were women. Voting took place in 605 booths at 124 polling centres.