United News of Bangladesh

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.  

After 17 years of waiting, the people of Bangladesh went to polls on Thursday morning for a historic national election, hoping to restore true democracy and secure a powerful mandate for national reforms. The voting that began at 7:30am will continue until 4:30pm without any break at 42,659 polling stations in 299 out of 300 constituencies across the country amid the presence of nearly one million security personnel and another one million polling staff.  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. The Chief Adviser will cast his vote at 10am, according to his press wing. Tarique Rahman is expected to cast his vote between 9:30am and 10am, said Shamsuddin Didar, a staff member of the BNP chairperson’s media wing. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman will cast his vote at Monipur centre at 8am.  However, the election to Sherpur-3 constituency was postponed following the death of a contesting candidate. The voters would choose 299 public representatives out of 2,028 candidates on Thursday from 299 constituencies, including nominees of 50 political parties and independent contenders, in the 13th national election. A total of 127,298,522 voters (in 299 constituencies) are eligible to cast their ballots in Thursday’s elections. Of them, 64,620,077 are male voters, 62,677,232 are female voters and 1,213 are third-gender voters. The country has a total of 127,711,899 voters in 300 constituencies. Two major political parties – BNP and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami— are in the electoral race seeking public mandate to govern the country for the next five years. But Awami League is not in the electoral race this time after 30 years as the party boycotted the 15th February election held in 1996. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Wednesday reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to delivering a peaceful, credible and participatory election. “I wish to reaffirm the election commission's unwavering commitment to delivering a peaceful, credible and participatory election,” he said while briefing international election observers and foreign journalists in the city. The briefing was arranged at a city hotel on the eve of the Referendum 2026 and 13th Parliamentary Election to be held on Thursday (Feb 12). The CEC said transparency in the voting and counting process will be ensured. “Voters irrespective of gender, age or background are encouraged to participate freely,” he said. The CEC said ballots are issued only after proper identification and voting is conducted in secrecy in accordance with the prescribed rules. Any electoral dispute will be addressed strictly in accordance with established legal and constitutional procedures, he added. “Transparency remains a cornerstone of our election management,” he said, adding that approximately 330 international observers and more than 160 international journalists are independently covering the elections. Noting that special emphasis was placed on voter registration, he said, “Through a nationwide voter list update, approximately 4.5 million new voters have been enrolled, including 2.7 million women, bringing the total number of registered voters to over 127 million with a high level of data accuracy.”

Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday said law enforcement personnel deployed at polling centres are equipped with hidden cameras attached to their uniforms to ensure transparency and security. In addition, round-the-clock monitoring is being conducted through closed-circuit cameras at polling centres and drones in surrounding areas, the EC said. “All activities of those attempting to create chaos will be recorded, and strict action will be taken against those responsible. Everyone is being warned against engaging in such illegal activities,” the Commission said.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman will cast his vote at 8am on Thursday. He will vote at the Monipur High School (Boys’ Branch) polling centre in his constituency, Dhaka-15, located at 60 feet area, Jamaat said in a statement on Wednesday. Meanwhile, 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.