Nilphamari groom casts ballot before going to tie the knot

A groom in full wedding attire has stopped by a polling station before heading to his own wedding ceremony in Nilphamari.

On Thursday, Md Samiul Islam arrived at the Syedpur Pilot Girls’ High School centre in the Nilphamari-4 constituency wearing a sherwani and turban -- not for photographs, but to cast his vote.

With his wedding scheduled for the same day, the 28-year-old chose to visit the ballot box before joining the wedding procession to the bride’s home.

 “Voting is not just a right, it is our responsibility. I feel blessed to be able to participate in the democratic process of the country, at any busy time in life, even on a day of personal happiness like today. So vote first, then get married.”

Locals said his decision to vote on his wedding day set a distinctive example of civic responsibility.

Samiul recalled that his first opportunity to vote was in 2018, but he discovered upon reaching the polling station that a vote had already been cast in his name.

 “I could not vote even when I went to cast the first vote in my life,” he said.

 “Out of that anger, I did not go to the polling station to vote in 2024 either.”

He said he resolved to vote this time after the interim government announced the 2026 election.

 “When the interim government announced the 13th election, it was said that Bangladesh’s election would create history this time. That’s when I decided to cast my first vote on Feb 12, 2026, and on the day of the election, I will get married with pomp and bring a new wife home,” he said.

 “I fulfilled my life’s dream today after discussing it with everyone in my family.”

After casting his vote, Samiul left for Taraganj in Rangpur with his entourage of groomsmen to attend the wedding ceremony at the bride’s house.

Meanwhile, visits to different areas on Thursday indicated that voting in all four constituencies of Nilphamari was taking place in what appeared to be a festive atmosphere.