By Admin 
Bangladesh General Election: Voting for the general elections has started in Bangladesh on Thursday morning. This election is being held after Sheikh Hasina stepped down from the post of Prime Minister following major protests in August 2024. Voting started at 7:30 am on 299 seats out of 300 across the country, which will continue till 4:30 pm. Counting of votes is expected to begin as soon as voting ends. Voting has been canceled on one seat due to the death of a candidate.
This time, along with the general elections, a referendum is also being held on a big 84-point reform package. The main contest is between Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its former ally Jamaat-e-Islami. Last year, under the leadership of Mohammad Yunus, chief advisor to the interim government, Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League was dissolved and the party was banned from contesting elections.
Election Commission made strict security arrangements
The Election Commission has made strict security arrangements in view of the elections. About 10 lakh security personnel have been deployed, which is considered to be the largest deployment so far in the election history of the country. A total of 1,755 candidates from 50 political parties and 273 independent candidates are in the fray. BNP has fielded maximum 291 candidates. 83 women candidates are also trying their luck in this election.
Mohammad Yunus has said that he will soon hand over power to the elected government. He has appealed to all political parties, candidates and people to maintain peace and restraint on the day of voting.
AMM Nasiruddin appealed
In a message to the nation a day before voting, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasiruddin appealed to voters to cast their vote without fear. He said that all parties, candidates and voters should maintain an atmosphere of peace and brotherhood. He also told that representatives of 45 countries and organizations are monitoring these elections, which also includes many international organizations.
According to government news agency BSS, Election Commissioner Abdur R Machood said that about nine lakh security personnel have been deployed for security. Armored vehicles and quick action forces have also been deployed in many areas of the capital Dhaka. According to the police, 1,614 of Dhaka’s 2,131 polling stations have been considered sensitive, while the army has described two polling stations in the city as ‘risky’.
This time, for the first time, drones and cameras worn on clothes are also being used for election security. According to Election Commission data, out of about 12.7 crore voters, 3.58 percent are voting for the first time. Also, about eight lakh registered overseas Bangladeshis will also be able to vote through the IT based postal ballot system for the first time.