Dhaka: Vote counting continues as the voting in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad Election and the Referendum 2026 concluded peacefully at 4:30 pm today. Election Commission (EC) Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed stated that approximately 48 percent voter turnout was recorded nationwide by 2 pm.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, voting commenced at 7:30 am across 42,779 polling centers in 299 constituencies nationwide. A total of 12,77,11,793 voters were registered to cast their ballots, comprising 6,48,25,361 males, 6,28,85,200 females, and 1,232 from the third gender. Prominent leaders from various political parties participating in the polls exercised their voting rights at their respective polling centers in the morning.
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman voted at Gulshan Model High School and College center in the capital around 9:30 am, whereas Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman cast his ballot at Monipur High School and College. Witnesses reported that a stringent security vigil was in place at polling centers across the nation, as the EC canceled voting in the Sherpur-3 seat following a candidate’s demise.
EC official sources reported the deployment of nearly 900,000 law enforcement personnel to maintain security and order during the voting process and beyond, alongside the appointment of 2,098 executive and 657 judicial magistrates for election duties. These magistrates are scheduled to remain on duty for five days starting from Tuesday.
The election featured BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami as the main contenders and is anticipated to conclude the 18-month tenure of the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus. EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed previously mentioned that 50 political parties were participating in the polls, with a total of 2,028 candidates, including 273 independents, with BNP fielding the most candidates at 291. There were 83 female candidates contesting in the polls.
The EC indicated that around 800,000 officials, excluding those involved in security and law enforcement, were assigned election duties. This includes 69 returning officers, 598 assistant returning officers, 42,779 presiding officers, 247,482 assistant presiding officers, and 4,95,964 polling officers. Additionally, about 15,000 officials were engaged in postal voting duties.
EC officials highlighted that the security personnel comprised 103,000 army troops, 8,500 navy sailors and airmen, alongside 37,453 paramilitary BGB soldiers and 3,585 Coast Guard members. The police force on poll duty numbered 187,603, complemented by 9,349 RAB personnel. The Ansar force contributed the highest number of law enforcement personnel, with 5,67,868 members.
The elections were monitored by 55,454 observers from 81 local organizations, while 394 foreign poll monitors were present. Nearly 200 foreign journalists arrived in Bangladesh to observe the elections and referendum. Among the international observers, 80 represented various international organizations, while others came from different countries, including independent European observers.