Vote counting is officially underway across Bangladesh following the conclusion of the 13th National Parliament Election and the concurrent constitutional Referendum at 4:30 pm.
The day-long polling, described as peaceful and festive, marks a critical turning point for the nation as it concludes 18 months of interim governance led by Chief Adviser Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus.
Election Commission (EC) Senior Secretary Akhter Ahmed confirmed that voter turnout reached nearly 48% by 2 pm, with final figures expected to climb significantly as data from the country’s 42,779 polling centers is tallied.
A total of 127.7 million registered voters were eligible to participate in what is being called the world's first "Gen Z-inspired" election, following the 2024 July Revolution.
The political landscape saw a major shift, with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami emerging as the primary contenders.
Top leaders cast their ballots early in the capital; BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman voted at Gulshan Model High School and College, expressing hope for a "new path" for the nation.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman exercised his franchise at Monipur High School and College, pledging to accept the results if the process remains fair and neutral.
Security was a top priority throughout the day, with nearly 900,000 personnel—including army troops, navy sailors, and paramilitary forces—deployed to maintain order.
While 299 seats were contested, voting in the Sherpur-3 constituency was postponed following the death of a candidate earlier this month.
The process was monitored by nearly 400 foreign observers and 200 international journalists, who witnessed voters casting two separate ballots: a white one for parliamentary candidates and a pink one for the "July Charter" referendum on governance reforms.
The Election Commission has begun releasing results through its secure digital network, with preliminary winners for various seats expected to be announced throughout the night.
