DIVYA DELHI : Dhaka, Feb 12 — Millions of Bangladeshis voted on Thursday in a historic general election, the first since former prime minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in a youth-led uprising last year. Polling opened at 7:30 a.m. in 299 of 300 constituencies and will run until 4:30 p.m., with counting to begin immediately after. Results are expected by Friday. Voting in one seat was postponed following the death of a candidate. Long queues formed across the country, with many voters calling it the first genuinely free vote in nearly two decades. “Our votes will matter this time,” said Mohammed Jobair Hossain, 39, who cast his ballot for the first time since 2008. The main contest pits the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) against the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami. The Awami League, previously led by Hasina, has been disbanded and barred from contesting. More than 1,700 candidates, including 273 independents, are vying for 300 parliamentary seats. The election follows months of unrest sparked by deadly anti-Hasina protests that disrupted key industries, including the garment sector — the world’s second-largest apparel exporter. Analysts say a decisive mandate is vital for stability in the nation of 175 million. Voting is also accompanied by a referendum on sweeping constitutional reforms, including term limits for the prime minister and the creation of a neutral caretaker government during elections. Nearly one million security personnel have been deployed nationwide, with international observers monitoring the poll. Officials have urged peaceful participation, saying the credibility of the process will be critical to Bangladesh’s democratic transition.
