Dhaka, July 3 -- Voting has begun in the biennial election of the Bangladesh Film Artiste Association, though the polling centre got off to a quiet start with few voters turning up in the first hour.

Polls opened at 9:30am on Friday and will run until 6pm, with 573 members choosing their leadership for 2026-2028 between two competing panels.

The election commission repeatedly announced over the public address system that the centre was near-empty and urged voters to come in.

Actor Ejajul Islam, a regular early voter, cast his ballot at 9:45am.

He said he came first thing as Fridays are his busiest day at his medical clinic.

"Let the election end smoothly," he said. "After the election we are all one. Let there be no division."

Two p...