by GM Forhadul Mojumder

The voting for the 13th National Parliamentary Election in Bangladesh has concluded in a festive atmosphere, barring a few isolated incidents. Counting is currently underway. This marks the nation’s first major democratic exercise following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year regime.

 Approximately 130 million voters exercised their franchise in a historic general election held simultaneously with a national referendum. On Thursday, millions across the country braved long queues for hours, driven by the hope of a stable democratic future and an end to prolonged political instability. Over 900,000 security personnel were deployed to maintain order during this transition from an interim government to a formal democratic framework.

A long queue of voters at the center to cast their votes. Photo – Courtesy of Jago News.

Polling for the 13th National Election and the referendum began at 7:30 AM nationwide and concluded at 4:30 PM. Following the end of polling, counting commenced at the respective centers. Returning Officers will consolidate the seat-wise results after center-based tallies are announced. The final results will be officially released from the result collection and dissemination center established at the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat.

Reports from across the country indicate that the election was conducted in a celebratory mood. Akhtar Ahmed, Senior Secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat informed that 47.91% of votes were cast by 2:00 PM in 36,031 out of 42,651 polling stations. He further noted that the election environment remained peaceful without any major disruptions.

At the Kalachandpur School in Gulshan, which housed seven polling centers, Presiding Officers reported a maximum turnout of 55% by 3:00 PM. At Center 37, the turnout was 40% out of 2,858 total votes. Presiding Officer Md. Farukul Islam told the press agency Presenza, ‘I have covered many elections, but I have never experienced such peace. There was no fear of muscle power. I’ve never been able to perform my duties with such a calm mind before.’

Vigilant presence of army personnel around the center during the vote counting after the voting festival. Photo – Courtesy of Bangla Tribune.

A total of 51 political parties participated in this election. Out of 2,034 candidates, 275 contested as independents. Among the political parties, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) fielded the highest number of candidates, with 291 contesting under the ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ symbol. Other major participants included Islami Andolan Bangladesh with 258 candidates (Hand Fan),  Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami with 229 candidates (Scales), and the Jatiya Party with 198 candidates (Plough). The Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP) fielded 32 candidates under the ‘Water Lily Bud’ symbol. Elections were held in 299 out of 300 constituencies, excluding Sherpur-3, where the EC cancelled polling following the death of the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate.

Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser of the Interim Government, cast his vote at a center in Ideal School and College, Motijheel, Dhaka, in the morning. Looking calm and resolute, he exchanged greetings with voters. Speaking to journalists, he said, ‘Today is a day of celebration for every citizen. We have fulfilled our promise to return power to its true owners—the people. This election, along with the referendum based on the ‘July Charter,’ will ensure that our democracy can never be snatched away again. I urge everyone to accept the people’s mandate with total sincerity.’

Tarique Rahman, Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), cast his vote at his designated center in Gulshan. He told reporters, ‘After two decades of struggle and sacrifice, the people of this country are finally breathing the air of freedom. This vote is not just for a party, but for the restoration of the rule of law. We are confident that the people have chosen a ‘New Bangladesh,’ leaving the shadows of the past behind.’

Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, cast his vote at a center in Mirpur under the Dhaka-15 constituency amidst tight security and disciplined party activists. Reflecting on the day, he stated, ‘We have witnessed an unprecedented awakening. The people have voted against corruption and fascism. Our goal is to build a society based on justice and equity. Regardless of the outcome, we will work with all stakeholders to protect the sovereignty of the country.’

As the sun set over the delta, the counting process began. Due to the dual voting system- white ballots for the parliamentary seats and pink ballots for the referendum—obtaining the final results may take longer than usual. While the BNP is perceived to be leading the race, the high voter turnout and the influence of the youth-led National Citizens’ Party (NCP) and Jamaat-e-Islami suggest that the next parliament will be far more diverse and balanced than those of recent decades.

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The Author:

GM Forhadul Mojumder: Correspondent, Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau.