United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus on Thursday cast his vote  at the Gulshan Model School and College centre in the capital. He exercised his franchise amid tight security at 10:30 am. The voting began at 7:30 am with voters lining up at polling stations across the country to elect their representatives.

As polling got underway on Thursday morning, Zobayer, a student at Khulna Alia Madrasah, joined the queues with a sense of anticipation.  Within minutes, he would cast the first vote of his life. Zobayer, who studies in the Department of Arabic, voted at about 08:00 at the Majid Memorial City College polling centre in the Khulna-2 constituency.  His ballot was cast on the third floor of the centre, where a neighbour was seen guiding him through the process. For the young voter, the experience was both emotional and celebratory. “I feel very good to be able to cast my vote. This is the first vote of my life. Some of my friends are also new voters this time. We will celebrate this vote together,” he said. Bangladesh’s long walk to the ballot box; voting  begins at 7:30am Zobayer lives with his parents in the city’s Moulvipara area and became eligible to vote this year.  He said he had chosen his preferred candidate and hoped that candidate would go on to win.      

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman cast his vote at 8:15am on Thursday at the Monipur High School (Boys’ Branch) polling centre. The Jamaat leader went to the polling station around 8 am and cast his vote. Voting began at Monipur High School polling centre in the city’s Mirpur 60 Feet area amid a calm atmosphere. Voters were seen arriving at the centre, forming queues to cast their ballots. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman will cast their votes at the Gulshan Model School and College centre in the capital. Free, fair polls matter more than win or loss: Nahid Islam

Jamaat-led alliance candidate and National Citizen Party convener Nahid Islam on Thursday said ensuring a free and fair election is more important than electoral victory or defeat, stressing that the real test is whether people can exercise their voting rights without obstruction. Speaking to reporters after casting his vote in Dhaka-11 at AKM Rahmatullah College in Badda, Nahid said the election must be credible at any cost. “If the election is not fair, the July movement will be rendered meaningless,” Nahid warned. Bangladesh’s long walk to the ballot box; voting  begins at 7:30am Expressing optimism about forming the next government, Nahid said the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance had united with the clear objective of coming to power. “We believe this alliance is standing at the threshold of forming the government.” He said the alliance would accept the election outcome regardless of the result, provided the polls are conducted fairly. “We are prepared to accept the people’s verdict. If the election is free and fair, we will accept whatever result comes.” Nahid also urged the administration, law enforcement agencies and the army to make all-out efforts to ensure a fair electoral process. Commenting on the electoral environment, he acknowledged existing challenges but said the Jamaat-led alliance wants the highest possible voter turnout so that people can cast their votes without hindrance. He also called on voters to support the ‘Yes’ option in the referendum. “There are obstacles, and some are trying to undermine the electoral atmosphere. It is not enough for you or me to say the election was fair. Public reactions on social media and the opinions of election observers will determine whether the polls were transparent.” Voting began at 7:30am on Thursday at more than 42,000 polling centres across the country in 299 constituencies. The 13th national parliamentary election is being held with around 13 crore registered voters, whose decision will determine the formation of Bangladesh’s next government.  

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Monday, the final day of electioneering, instructed party leaders, activists and supporters not to leave polling centres until the vote counting is completed and results are confirmed. “When will you go to vote? You must go early in the morning. But going early is not enough. Everyone must go to their respective polling centres, offer Fajr prayers there and then stand in front of the polling centre,” he said. Tarique gave the directive while addressing an election rally at Dayaganj in Jurain under the Dhaka-4 constituency. He also instructed party leaders and supporters not to return home immediately after casting their votes. “You must wait until the very end. Leave only after voting is completed and the votes are counted properly,” Tarique said. The BNP chief said over the past decade, people were deprived not only of their voting rights but also of their economic freedom. “But today, once again, a conspiracy against democracy has begun. We must resist this conspiracy,” he said. Warning against complacency, Tarique said if the country becomes trapped in such conspiracies again, Bangladesh will fall further behind and the long-awaited change in people’s fortunes will be delayed. “That is why you must remain alert during the election on the 12th. Keep your eyes and ears open,” he said. Introducing BNP’s candidate for Dhaka-4, Tanvir Ahmed Robin, Tarique urged local voters to ensure his victory. Earlier, Tarique addressed rallies at Basabo Tarun Sangha ground in Dhaka-9 constituency and at Shaheed Faruk Road in Jatrabari under Dhaka-5. After the Dhaka-4 rally, he spoke at Dhopkhola field in Dhaka-6 constituency. The BNP chairman addressed his final election rally at Lalbagh Balur Math in Dhaka-7 at around 9:30 pm after nearly eight hours of continuous campaigning. He formally wrapped up his election campaign by visiting the graves of his parents at around 11:00 pm.

BNP Standing Committee member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Tuesday said political accountability to people can be ensured if Parliament is made effective and its standing committees are allowed to function properly. He made the remarks while speaking at a programme titled ‘National Election 2026 and Citizens’ Expectations’, organised by Citizen’s Platform at city’s Agargaon. Amir Khosru said all elements of the so-called ‘new political arrangement’ already exist within the Constitution, stressing that the real challenge lies not in the constitutional framework but in political practice. “The most important issue is ensuring accountability of politicians. If politicians are accountable to the people, many problems can be resolved easily.” He said that people have largely lost trust in politicians, adding that restoring public confidence is solely the responsibility of political leaders. “A significant portion of that trust can be regained through accountability alone.” Highlighting the role of parliamentary democracy, Khosru said accountability must be ensured not only through Parliament but also beyond it, involving the private sector, civil society and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). “There must be a partnership between the government and civil society, NGOs and the private sector. If civil society is not facilitated or allowed to function, it should be understood that the government is gradually moving towards authoritarianism,” he said. Mirza Abbas alleges plot to destabilise country, vows not to fall into trap Referring to parliamentary reforms, he said Bangladesh follows the Westminster model, which functions smoothly in the UK. “If the same principles create problems here, the fault lies not in the system but in our political culture. Blaming Parliament without making parliamentary committees functional will not work. There is no alternative to effective parliamentary committees.” On political consensus, Khosru said reforms cannot be carried out by involving everyone indiscriminately. “People do not give a reform mandate to all parties collectively. The party that receives the people’s mandate has the right to reform.” Calling unanimity in political ideology contrary to democracy, he added, “Your political philosophy and mine do not have to be the same. The beauty of democracy lies in being able to practice politics despite differences.” The programme was moderated by Citizen’s Platform Convener Debapriya Bhattacharya, who observed that every government enjoys a “honeymoon period” initially when it listens to all stakeholders, but gradually becomes less receptive over time. BNP gears up in Sylhet as Tarique Rahman set to launch election campaign Responding, Amir Khosru said the BNP is already practising accountability in its political programmes. “We do not just deliver speeches and leave. We keep an hour-long question-and-answer session. We want to hear what people want to say and remain connected with them.” Khosru also praised Citizen’s Platform’s Reform Tracker system, saying the era of political rhetoric is over. “Now is the time to deliver. Any party that fails to understand the aspirations of the people will face an uncertain political future in Bangladesh.”  

Mojibur Rahman Monju, chairman of the Amar Bangladesh Party (AB Party), on Tuesday apologised to the public for joining the 11-party alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, admitting that the move undermined expectations for a new political force and a fresh political arrangement. Speaking at a programme titled ‘National Election 2026 and Citizens Expectations’, organised by Citizen’s Platform at city’s Agargaon, Monju said his party had failed to live up to public aspirations as a new political organisation. “As a new political party, we could not fulfil your expectations. In the heat of electoral politics, we had to join a major political alliance. Many of you were hurt by this decision. I apologise to you,” he said. When Monju asked the audience whether they had accepted his apology, the crowd responded in unison with a resounding ‘No’. Reacting to the response, he said, “When someone seeks forgiveness, forgiveness should be granted. Not forgiving has become a negative culture.” Explaining his party’s decision to join the Jamaat-led alliance, Monju said elections present a harsh reality for smaller parties. “In this reality, it is difficult for small parties to survive without aligning with bigger ones. Still, we are taking 60 percent of the responsibility for joining Jamaat’s alliance on ourselves. We will not blame ordinary citizens,” Monju said. When Citizen’s Platform Convener Debapriya Bhattacharya asked why AB Party failed to create a new political arrangement, Monju replied that the party lacked the necessary capacity. “As a small party, we did not have the ability. From deploying polling agents to managing the broader electoral process, it was not possible for us to do it alone.” Expressing frustration, Monju said party leaders and activists are regularly subjected to bullying and ridicule on social media. “People mock us, asking whether all of us together would even get 100 votes, or whether we are fit to form a party and contest elections.” Referring to Tasnim Jara’s decision to contest elections independently after resigning from the National Citizen Party (NCP), Monju said not everyone enjoys such advantages. “Jara has a different background and strong media support. Even then, she struggled to secure one percent support. Those who do not have such privileges cannot simply leave a party and contest independently, even if they want to,” he said. On the political reform issues, Monju said, “We will make mistakes, you will point them out, and we will correct them—that is the new political arrangement.” He argued that honest district administrators and police superintendents are more important than members of parliament in running the country. “If the DCs and SPs of an area are honest, 70 percent of a country’s work gets done. MPs are not essential for that.” Monju said he has assured voters in his constituency that, if elected, he would not interfere in the work of DCs and SPs. “People do not understand theoretical debates. They want good roads, tin for their houses, tupi and blankets.” AB Party formally joined the Jamaat-led alliance in late December, following the National Citizen Party (NCP) and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), bringing the total number of alliance partners to 11. Monju will contest the upcoming election from Feni-1 constituency and has already begun campaigning in his area.