United News of Bangladesh

Dhaka remained unusually calm and largely empty a day after the national election, as a holiday mood continued to grip the capital. Major thoroughfares and flyovers that are typically choked with traffic wore a deserted look, with only a handful of vehicles seen plying the roads.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Thursday dismissed allegations of manipulation over voter turnout percentages released during the balloting process, saying such variations are natural as results from thousands of polling centres arrive at different times. "There were debates over the voter turnout percentage in the past (elections) as well. Please don’t question it now,” he said at a post-election briefing at 10pm on Thursday night. The CEC, however, didn’t release the overall voter turnout percentage at the briefing.  Addressing concerns raised over changes in reported vote percentages, he said questions often emerge immediately after results start coming in, with some people pointing out that the turnout or counting percentage stood at 8 percent at one point and rose to 20 percent a few hours later. Explaining the procedure, the CEC said results from more than 42,000 polling centres are received gradually and added cumulatively as they arrive at the Election Commission. “When results come from such a large number of centres at different times, there will naturally be variations in the overall percentage,” he said, adding that this does not indicate any irregularity. The CEC categorically denied any manipulation or hidden motive behind the changing figures. “There is no game of manipulation here and no other intention,” he said. “We are simply doing addition and calculation and announcing the cumulative results accordingly.” He also clarified that the Election Commission itself is not issuing any independent or unilateral results. “We do not want to give any ‘official’ result of our own,” the CEC said. According to him, the only results considered in the counting process are those sent directly from the field by the returning officers, duly signed and authenticated by them. “The results that the returning officers send from the field with their signatures are the ones we include in our calculation,” he said, stressing that the process is entirely transparent and based on official documentation from the grassroots level. The clarification comes amid ongoing public discussion and scrutiny over the pace and pattern of result updates as vote counting continues across the country. Earlier in the afternoon, EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said some 47.91 percent of registered voters had cast their ballots by 2pm at 36,031 out of 42,651 polling centres across the country. He said the commission has yet to receive turnout data from 6,620 centres, he told reporters at the EC secretariat in the afternoon. The referendum and the 13th parliamentary election were held simultaneously from 7:30am to 4:30pm on Thursday in a festive and peaceful atmosphere in 299 out of 300 constituencies across the country.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday expressed optimism about Bangladesh’s future, describing the atmosphere surrounding the twin elections as festive and historic, saying it feels like Eid as the nation embarks on building a new Bangladesh. “It is like Eid....fantastic. A big future is coming up (lies ahead of us). We are creating a new Bangladesh,” Prof Yunus said, terming the national election and referendum a historic opportunity to reshape the country’s destiny. Casting his ballot, he said the moment marked one of the greatest joys of his life and symbolised a decisive break from the past. “Today, a new Bangladesh is born,” he said. At every step, Prof Yunus said, they have the opportunity to build a new Bangladesh. "Let us celebrate the birthday of Bangladesh today. Let the whole nation celebrate this festival throughout the day.” The Chief Adviser cast his vote at the Gulshan Model School and College polling centre in the capital. “It is a day of immense happiness in my life. It is also a day of great joy and liberation for the people of Bangladesh,” he added. Referring to the ongoing electoral process, Prof Yunus said it signifies the end of the past and the beginning of a renewed national framework grounded in hope and reform. He said people across the country are observing the day in a celebratory mood, embracing it as a national festival. After casting his vote, the Chief Adviser visited Badda High School polling centre and another centre in Mirpur to inspect the election environment. During the visits, he spoke with voters and election officials. ‘Today, a new Bangladesh is born,’ Prof Adviser Yunus Prof Yunus also monitored the nationwide voting situation from the control room at Police Headquarters. Home Affairs Adviser Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam were present. Later, he observed the overall voting situation from the temporary observation room set up at the State Guest House Jamuna.

Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman on Thursday urged voters to come out and cast their ballots without fear, expressing optimism that the election would be free and fair. “Please come out of your homes without fear, go to the polling stations and cast your votes. This is a very important day for us,” he said. The Army Chief made the remarks after casting his vote at 10:24am at the Science Building of Adamjee Cantonment College. “Today is a very important and joyful day in the life of our nation. We have been waiting for this day for the last one and a half years, a free and fair election. Alhamdulillah, that election is being held today,” he said. He said a peaceful atmosphere has been prevailing across the country since morning and the environment remains conducive for voting. “I have taken updates early in the morning about the situation across Bangladesh. The information I have received is that the election is being held in a very peaceful manner,” he said. Praising media professionals, the Army Chief said journalists are playing a significant role by informing people about the overall situation across the country, which reassures the public and encourages them to go and vote. He expressed the hope that the election would be completed successfully. “InshAllah, we will be able to complete a free and fair election,” he added.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday cast his vote  at the Gulshan Model School and College centre in the capital. He exercised his franchise amid tight security at 10:30 am. The voting began at 7:30 am with voters lining up at polling stations across the country to elect their representatives.

As polling got underway on Thursday morning, Zobayer, a student at Khulna Alia Madrasah, joined the queues with a sense of anticipation.  Within minutes, he would cast the first vote of his life. Zobayer, who studies in the Department of Arabic, voted at about 08:00 at the Majid Memorial City College polling centre in the Khulna-2 constituency.  His ballot was cast on the third floor of the centre, where a neighbour was seen guiding him through the process. For the young voter, the experience was both emotional and celebratory. “I feel very good to be able to cast my vote. This is the first vote of my life. Some of my friends are also new voters this time. We will celebrate this vote together,” he said. Bangladesh’s long walk to the ballot box; voting  begins at 7:30am Zobayer lives with his parents in the city’s Moulvipara area and became eligible to vote this year.  He said he had chosen his preferred candidate and hoped that candidate would go on to win.      

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman cast his vote at 8:15am on Thursday at the Monipur High School (Boys’ Branch) polling centre. The Jamaat leader went to the polling station around 8 am and cast his vote. Voting began at Monipur High School polling centre in the city’s Mirpur 60 Feet area amid a calm atmosphere. Voters were seen arriving at the centre, forming queues to cast their ballots. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman will cast their votes at the Gulshan Model School and College centre in the capital. Free, fair polls matter more than win or loss: Nahid Islam

Jamaat-led alliance candidate and National Citizen Party convener Nahid Islam on Thursday said ensuring a free and fair election is more important than electoral victory or defeat, stressing that the real test is whether people can exercise their voting rights without obstruction. Speaking to reporters after casting his vote in Dhaka-11 at AKM Rahmatullah College in Badda, Nahid said the election must be credible at any cost. “If the election is not fair, the July movement will be rendered meaningless,” Nahid warned. Bangladesh’s long walk to the ballot box; voting  begins at 7:30am Expressing optimism about forming the next government, Nahid said the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance had united with the clear objective of coming to power. “We believe this alliance is standing at the threshold of forming the government.” He said the alliance would accept the election outcome regardless of the result, provided the polls are conducted fairly. “We are prepared to accept the people’s verdict. If the election is free and fair, we will accept whatever result comes.” Nahid also urged the administration, law enforcement agencies and the army to make all-out efforts to ensure a fair electoral process. Commenting on the electoral environment, he acknowledged existing challenges but said the Jamaat-led alliance wants the highest possible voter turnout so that people can cast their votes without hindrance. He also called on voters to support the ‘Yes’ option in the referendum. “There are obstacles, and some are trying to undermine the electoral atmosphere. It is not enough for you or me to say the election was fair. Public reactions on social media and the opinions of election observers will determine whether the polls were transparent.” Voting began at 7:30am on Thursday at more than 42,000 polling centres across the country in 299 constituencies. The 13th national parliamentary election is being held with around 13 crore registered voters, whose decision will determine the formation of Bangladesh’s next government.  

Renowned photographer and human rights activist Shahidul Alam has expressed frustration over the Election Commission’s role in preventing irregularities surrounding Thursday’s national election. In a Facebook post in the early hours of Thursday, he wrote that the posts he had been sharing might not be representative, as they were based solely on information sent to him. “I have no way of knowing how much rigging is going on or who is doing the most rigging. But it is clear that the situation is rampant, and that the EC is largely ineffective,” he wrote. He said that while during the Awami League’s tenure there was “only one party,” it now appears to be “a free for all.” “Given what I am already seeing, I see no way in which this election can be described as being ‘free, fair and inclusive’,” he added. Shahidul said the interim government had achieved mixed success. “While we may forgive its failures in some areas, the inability to hold a proper election will ruin its entire credibility,” he wrote. He warned that unless immediate and effective steps are taken to curb irregularities and bring violators to justice, the situation would become a “permanent stain” on the administration. “Too many have shed too much blood for our country to be reduced to this,” he added. However, upon trawling through his social media handles, only one post related to alleged vote rigging was found.

Five election commissioners, including Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin, are set to cast their votes at their respective polling centres in the 13th National Election and referendum on Thursday. CEC Nasir Uddin is scheduled to vote at Eskaton Garden High School in the Dhaka-8 constituency. He is expected to be present at the polling centre at 9:30am. Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Mashud is expected to cast his vote at Alor Dhara School centre in Uttara around 8:30am. Election Commissioner Tahmida Ahmed will cast her vote at Agrani School and College centre in Azimpur. She is expected to exercise her franchise at 9:30am. Election Commissioners Md Anwarul Islam Sarker and Brig Gen Abul Fazal Md Sanaullah (Retd.) will cast their votes in Narayanganj-1 and Dhaka-8 constituencies respectively. Anwarul Islam is expected to vote at Daudpur Putina High School in Rupganj, Narayanganj, while Sanaullah will cast his ballot at Viqarunnisa Noon School & College.