Political Leaders Cast Votes to Restore Democracy

Prominent leaders from major political parties and alliances cast their ballots in the 13th National Parliament Election and the concurrent constitutional Referendum early Thursday, expressing a collective hope that the national election will mark a peaceful and fair "new chapter" for Bangladesh’s democracy.

Dr. Shafiqur Rahman, Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, cast his vote at Monipur High School and College in the capital.

Speaking to reporters, he emphasized that his party is committed to the democratic process and will accept the results, provided the polls remain free and neutral.

"We want the results that will come through a fair process," Dr. Rahman stated. "This is the beauty of democracy. After a long wait, people—especially the youth who have never voted before—finally have the opportunity to exercise their franchise."

He expressed optimism about forming a government that serves the country's 180 million people rather than any specific individual or family.

While he noted that minor issues would be ignored, he warned that major irregularities would not be tolerated. He further urged the media to act as a responsible "fourth pillar" in the nation-building process.

In Thakurgaon, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir cast his ballot at the Thakurgaon Government Girls High School center.

After visiting his parents' graves, Fakhrul spoke of the historical weight of the day, citing 17 years of struggle and sacrifice to regain voting rights.

"A new journey of democracy has begun," Fakhrul said. "We hope this path will be smooth and lead our politics and economy toward its intended goal."

Despite reports of minor "unpleasant incidents" overnight, which he attributed to "evil forces" attempting sabotage, Fakhrul expressed confidence in a victory under the leadership of Tarique Rahman and the establishment of good governance.

Nahid Islam, Convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and a candidate for the Dhaka-11 constituency, was among the early voters at A K M Rahmatullah University College in Badda.

Casting his first-ever vote, Nahid urged the public to flock to polling centers to ensure the "restoration of democracy." 

Addressing overnight tensions, he remarked, "Some people tried to create a tense environment, but we are not focusing on those incidents; we want to avoid altercation. We expect the process to be transparent. If the election is fair, we are ready to accept whatever the people decide."

In Panchagarh, Sarjis Alam, the National Citizen Party (NCP) Chief Organiser for the northern region and a key candidate for the Panchagarh-1 constituency, cast his ballot at the Bamankumar Rakhaldebi Hutt Adarsho High School polling centre.

Accompanied by his father, Akhtaruzzaman, and brother, Shahadat Hossain Shakib, Sarjis arrived early in the morning at a center already bustling with voters. After exchanging greetings with citizens outside, he exercised his franchise and called for a new era of democratic integrity.

"We cast our vote today with the hope of a new democracy," Sarjis stated. "Let us have faith in the people's opinions. We expect the highest professional behavior from every election official and member of the law enforcement agencies to ensure a fair, transparent, and impartial environment."

The race for the Panchagarh-1 seat is highly competitive, featuring six other candidates, including the BNP-nominated Barrister Naushad Zamir. Across the district’s two constituencies, voting is being conducted in 286 centers. Official data shows a robust electorate in the region, with 458,807 registered voters in Panchagarh-1 and 414,356 in Panchagarh-2.

Across the board, leaders urged men and women to step out of their homes and vote without fear. 

The prevailing sentiment among the opposition and their alliances is a cautious optimism that a transparent process will lead to a government built collectively by all stakeholders.