As the morning mist cleared to reveal bright skies, long queues began to form in front of polling stations across the country. Numerous voters arrived well before the scheduled time, National ID cards in hand, as a festive spirit swept through the nation for the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the National Referendum.
Since 7:00 AM on Thursday, polling centers in various regions have been buzzing with activity. From the busy capital to divisional cities, the spontaneous presence of voters has been a highlight of the morning.
In a center in Barishal, voters were seen waiting in disciplined lines even before the gates opened. Inside, election officials completed all necessary formalities, including sealing ballot boxes and verifying documentation. Voters are being granted entry only after a thorough verification of their National Identity cards.
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"It feels truly wonderful to vote in such a festive environment early in the morning," said Rubel, a voter at one of the stations. "It feels like we are all performing a vital national duty together."
Unprecedented Security Blanket
Strict security measures have been implemented across the capital to ensure a smooth voting process. Muhammad Talebur Rahman, Deputy Commissioner (Media) of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), stated that 26,515 DMP personnel are currently deployed in Dhaka. In addition to regular patrols, specialized striking forces—including the Bomb Disposal Unit, SWAT, K-9 units, and Crime Scene vans—remain on constant standby.
The Election Commission (EC) Public Relations Director, Md. Ruhul Amin Mollick, informed the media that a total of 919,350 law enforcement personnel are on duty nationwide. This includes:
To address any irregularities or electoral offenses immediately, 657 Judicial Magistrates and 1,047 Executive Magistrates are active in the field.
Global and Local Observation
This massive electoral event is under the close watch of a significant number of domestic and international observers. According to the EC, 335 international observers and 156 foreign journalists are currently monitoring the situation.
Additionally, nearly 45,000 observers from 80 domestic organizations are closely tracking the election proceedings to ensure transparency.
