Turnout gathers pace as Bangladesh voters cast ballots with enthusiasm

After going through three controversial elections during the Awami League’s tenure, many voters expressed enthusiasm as they cast their ballots in the 13th parliamentary election and referendum.

Voting began across the country at 7:30 am on Thursday and will continue uninterrupted until 4:30 pm. As the day progressed, turnout increased at polling centres in Dhaka.

A steady presence of male and female voters was seen in the morning at the Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Government High School centre.

Voters shared their experiences with excitement, though some also raised minor complaints.

Nusaiba, who recently completed her HSC from Mirpur Cantonment College and voted for the first time, described the experience in one word: “Excited.”

Her expectation from the new government is “to remain honest”.

Another voter at the centre said, “The voting environment looks spontaneous and good. For 17 long years, we could not vote, nor did we have a proper voting environment. Now we are voting.”

One voter, with a tear choked voice, said: “I came to vote after 16 years. I have nothing more to say.”

At Kamrunnesa Government Girls’ High School in Tikatuli under Dhaka-6, Advocate Masuma Akter expressed joy after casting her ballot. “It feels great to vote in the new Bangladesh. This is the expression of our sacrifices, and this is what we wanted. I hope it will remain like this till the end.”

Kamal Hossain, a former Dhaka University student who came from Shewrapara to vote at the University Laboratory School and College centre on the DU campus, told bdnews24.com: “The environment is very good. Everyone is coordinating. For the first time, it feels like a real vote.”

Abdul Majid, a resident of Kaderabad Housing who came to vote at the Physical Education College centre in Mohammadpur, said the environment was peaceful, though voting was taking slightly longer because both parliamentary and referendum ballots were being cast together.

Majid, who works at a private medical college, said: “It feels good to cast my own vote. But it is taking a bit more time.”

Asked how long it took, he said: “Approximately 15 minutes.”

Another voter, Abdul Hamid, said it took him five minutes.

Though he lives in Bosila, Abdul Hamid is a voter in Mohammadpur and works as a businessman.

“It took a little time because two ballots were cast together. But there was no problem in voting,” he said.

The crowd of voters was thin at the Physical Education College centre in the morning, though officials expect numbers to increase as the day rolls on.

DMP Mohammadpur Zone ADC Jewel Rana told reporters there was no security-related concern and urged voters to come to polling centres without fear.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said, “We have not received any reports of disturbances anywhere. We hope a peaceful and smooth environment will be maintained until the end.”

Another Election Commissioner, Md Anwarul Islam Sarkar, said: “Any attempt at vote rigging will not be tolerated. Law enforcing agencies are working with vigilance. We are monitoring through helicopters, drones, body-worn cameras and CCTV. Alhamdulillah, apart from minor incidents, we are not seeing any major problems.”

He added, “In some cases, reports from the field are being exaggerated. The reality is that law enforcement, polling officials -- everyone -- is working sincerely and responsibly.

“Everyone expects a good election. Inshallah, it will be a good election. Law enforcing personnel and magistrates are on patrol. Action is being taken against those violating the code of conduct in different districts. Anyone involved in ballot stuffing, obstructing voters or vote trading will be brought under the law. We will be able to reshape and bring change to the electoral culture.”

More than 127.7 million voters are eligible to cast ballots in the election. Of them, 64.8 million are men and 62.8 million are women, while 1,232 transgender voters are also eligible to vote.