Ivars Ijabs, the head of the European Union (EU) election observation mission, has described today’s voting process as a "major day" for democracy in Bangladesh.

He made the remarks on Thursday morning after visiting the Siddheswari Girls’ College polling center in the capital to observe the commencement of the 13th National Parliamentary Election and National Referendum.

The EU delegation arrived at the center approximately 30 minutes before polls opened to monitor the final preparations. In their presence, the presiding officer demonstrated that the ballot boxes were empty before sealing them for the vote. Polling began precisely at the scheduled time.

Speaking to journalists afterward, Ivars Ijabs noted, "The election began right on time. We have witnessed the start of the polling process this morning." He expressed his hope that the election would remain participatory not only in the capital but across the entire country, adding that his team would continue to monitor the process throughout the day.

Voter enthusiasm was also evident at the center. Rita Khandakar, the first person to cast her ballot at the location, shared her excitement with the media. "I am finally able to vote after a long time; it feels very exciting," she said. "I hope for a qualified and corruption-free leadership—whoever wins must truly care for the country." She confirmed that she cast ballots for both the parliamentary seat and the national referendum.

Since this morning, the environment at the center has remained peaceful, with a steady presence of voters reported.