During the 13th national parliamentary election in Bangladesh, numerous photos of stamped ballot papers appeared on Facebook even before voting concluded. The images, shared from personal profiles and pages, showed voters marking their preferred symbols inside polling booths and posting the pictures online. Some posts included political endorsements, prompting public debate over the neutrality and transparency of the election process.

The circulation of these images sparked discussions about possible irregularities in ballot management and monitoring at polling centers. Election laws require strict protection of ballot secrecy, and the Election Commission prohibits voters from carrying mobile phones within 400 yards of polling stations. The emergence of these photos raised questions about how voters managed to bring phones inside and take pictures in secret booths.

Abu Raihan Sohel, the presiding officer of center number 66 in Nilphamari-1 constituency, said he was unaware of the incident but claimed officials were vigilant to prevent mobile phones inside polling centers. He expressed confusion over how such photos were taken despite efforts to maintain fair voting.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman stated that his party would accept election results only if the voting process remains neutral, fair, and free of controversy. Speaking to journalists in Dhaka’s Gulshan on Thursday, he emphasized that any attempt to create confusion or unwanted incidents during voting would lead the BNP to reject the results. Earlier, Rahman cast his vote at Gulshan Model School and visited several areas of the capital before addressing the media.

He reiterated that the election must be peaceful and transparent, asserting that the people of Bangladesh are the true owners of the country. According to him, higher voter turnout would help prevent conspiracies and strengthen public confidence in the process. Responding to questions about isolated incidents across the country, Rahman said such actions would create negative perceptions among citizens.

Rahman also expressed hope that the Election Commission would announce results within the scheduled timeframe, noting there was no reason for delays. He described voter turnout in Dhaka as satisfactory.

A large number of female voters, particularly young women, were seen participating enthusiastically in the Dhaka-9 parliamentary constituency election held on February 12, 2026. At the Madinabagh National School center, voter Sammi Akhter, aged 23, said she came to vote with her mother and younger sister, marking their family’s first voting experience. Presiding officer Mehedi Hasan reported that by 1 p.m., 712 out of 2,282 registered voters had cast their ballots, representing about 27 percent turnout. Lines of new young voters were notably long across all four booths at the center.

At another women’s polling center, Madinabagh Kindergarten, a similarly strong presence of female voters was recorded, with around 600 of 2,684 votes cast by midday. The main contenders in this constituency are BNP candidate Habibur Rashid Habib, National Citizen Party’s Mohammad Javed Mia, and independent candidate Tasmin Jara, a former NCP leader whose symbol is a football.

Dhaka-9 comprises wards 1–7 and 71–75 of Dhaka South City Corporation, covering Sabujbagh, Khilgaon, Mugda, and Maniknagar areas. The constituency has 469,360 registered voters, including 231,682 women, across 169 polling centers, with a total of 12 candidates contesting.

During the 13th National Parliamentary Election, Zahara Nafisa, a student of North South University, remembered Shaheed Osman Hadi while casting her vote at the Mirza Abbas Mohila College center in Dhaka-8. She said Osman Hadi was courageous and spoke boldly for truth and justice, adding that his presence would have made the election more joyful. Nafisa also expressed appreciation for Nasiruddin Patowary, noting his bravery in speaking the truth and urging the young generation to follow Hadi’s path.

Addressing the issue of Jamaat-e-Islami’s alleged misogyny, Nafisa stated that she did not consider the party to be anti-women, suggesting that their statements were often misunderstood due to poor presentation. She said she had developed trust in them and hoped future governments would govern the country responsibly.

According to official data, Dhaka-8 constituency has 266,497 voters, including 145,845 men, 120,651 women, and one third-gender voter. A total of 8,982 expatriates registered to vote via the ‘Postal Vote BD’ app.

Syed Mufti Faizul Karim, the Islami Andolan candidate for Barishal-5 constituency, cast his vote on Thursday morning at Rupatali Government Secondary School in Barishal city. After voting, he expressed concern about possible irregularities but said that so far the process was proceeding smoothly. He urged journalists, the administration, and all concerned to remain vigilant to ensure a peaceful election. He also called on voters to support his party’s electoral symbol, the hand fan.

According to local election data, 36 candidates are contesting across six parliamentary constituencies in Barishal’s ten upazilas. There are 833 polling centers, including 255 marked as highly important and 236 as important. Security arrangements include around 1,500 army personnel, 2,667 police officers, 14 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh, 60 navy members with one vessel, 150 Coast Guard members, and 10,829 Ansar members deployed across the region.

Barishal’s six constituencies have a total of 2,284,978 registered voters, including 1,126,738 women, 1,158,220 men, and 20 third-gender voters.

Independent parliamentary candidate Barrister Rumin Farhana has expressed complete confidence in her victory in the 13th National Parliamentary Election for the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency, which includes parts of Sarail, Ashuganj, and Bijoynagar. She made the remarks on Thursday morning after casting her vote in her local area.

Speaking to reporters, Rumin Farhana alleged that eight polling centers in Ashuganj were highly vulnerable and claimed to have received reports of attempts to manipulate ballots there. She said she had informed the army, police, and district commissioner about these centers. She also stated that two of her workers from Noagaon Union were detained without reason the previous night, and she had spoken to the district commissioner about the matter. Farhana further alleged that efforts to stamp ballots were ongoing in several places, particularly in Ashuganj.

A former BNP leader now running independently with the ‘Duck’ symbol, Rumin Farhana responded to a question about possible future cooperation with BNP by saying, “Let’s see, I have to win first.”

Bangladesh’s much-discussed national election and referendum are underway, drawing enthusiastic participation from first-time voters. At the Haji Salimullah School polling center in Shyampur, Dhaka-4 constituency, young voters Md. Zahidul Islam, Md. Rifat Ahmed, and Md. Shahriar Islam cast their first-ever votes on Thursday. They told Amader Desh that they were delighted to vote for the first time in a peaceful environment, noting the absence of previous disorder or coercion. Zahidul Islam recalled the July uprising, saying they had taken part in that movement and now felt proud to vote in both the referendum and parliamentary election.

According to the report, 50 registered political parties are participating in this election, with the main contest between the BNP and Jamaat. A total of 127,711,793 citizens are eligible to vote, including 64,825,361 men, 62,885,200 women, and 1,232 third-gender voters.

The peaceful voting experience and high youth enthusiasm suggest a renewed sense of civic engagement in this historic election, as reflected in the voices of first-time voters.

A joint force detained Syed Alam, president of the BNP’s Kachhapia Union unit in Ramu upazila of Cox’s Bazar, on Thursday morning for allegedly trying to influence voters and commit vote rigging at the Gorjonia Faizul Ulum Kamil Madrasa polling center. The arrest took place around 10 a.m., and he was later handed over to Ramu police. The incident occurred during the ongoing voting for the 13th National Parliamentary Election, which began at 7:30 a.m. the same day.

Ramu Police Station Officer-in-Charge Monir Hossain confirmed the detention, stating that although the joint force initially held Syed Alam on suspicion, instructions were later given to release him. Local sources claimed that Alam had been pressuring election officials to favor the BNP’s electoral symbol, the paddy sheaf, before being detained by the army.

The report did not mention any further legal action or official comment from the Election Commission regarding the incident.

On the eve of Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election, the two main contenders, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, held separate press conferences trading accusations. The election follows the fall of the Awami League government in the July uprising, marking a major political turning point. Analysts say this vote is crucial as it comes after three disputed elections over the past 15 years, during which voters were largely denied participation.

The political landscape has shifted since the Awami League’s ouster, with new polarization emerging. Jamaat has formed an 11-party alliance dominated by Islamist groups, while BNP has partnered with its previous movement allies. Tensions rose after large sums of money were reportedly seized from party figures, prompting both sides to accuse each other of attempts to influence the election. Security forces remain active nationwide, and the Election Commission has pledged to ensure safety.

Analysts warn that maintaining law and order and reviving the stagnant economy will be the main challenges for whichever party forms the next government.

Sarjis Alam, the northern regional organizer of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and candidate for Panchagarh-1 constituency, cast his vote on Wednesday morning at Bamonkumar Rakhaldebi Hat Adarsha High School polling center in Atwari upazila. He stood in line with general voters and was accompanied by his father Akhtaruzzaman and younger brother Shahadat Hossain Sakib. The polling center saw a notable turnout from early morning, and voting took place in a calm environment.

After voting, Sarjis told reporters that he voted for the symbol of the 11-party alliance and expressed hope for a fair and transparent election. He urged all political parties to maintain tolerance and called on election officials and law enforcement to act professionally. He also alleged that BNP activists had previously intimidated voters in the area but hoped election day would remain peaceful.

According to the presiding officer, voting at the center was proceeding peacefully with 5,969 registered voters. The district administration deployed security forces and magistrates to ensure a fair election across 286 polling centers in Panchagarh district.

Jamaat-e-Islami central Naib-e-Ameer and 11-party alliance candidate Dr. Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher cast his vote on Thursday morning at a local primary school polling center in Paschim Dekra village of Chauddagram, Comilla, after visiting his parents’ graves. The voting took place in a festive atmosphere, and voters expressed satisfaction with the administration’s arrangements.

Dr. Taher said the election was proceeding fairly so far and expressed confidence that the 11-party alliance would win by a large margin if the process continued smoothly. He recalled contesting from the same area in 2001 with the scale symbol and noted that, apart from a few isolated incidents, voting was running smoothly. He estimated that voter turnout could reach 70 percent and stated that Jamaat-e-Islami would accept any result if the election remained fair.

Reports from across the country were described as positive by Dr. Taher, who reiterated his party’s hope for victory under fair electoral conditions.

Interim government Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus cast his vote in the 13th parliamentary election on Thursday morning at Gulshan Model High School and College in Dhaka. He arrived at the polling center at 10:27 a.m. and spoke briefly with journalists after voting.

Yunus described the day as one of great joy, calling it the birthday of a new Bangladesh. He said the nation was celebrating this day as a festival, marking a complete departure from a painful past. He urged everyone to participate in the referendum and concluded his remarks by wishing all citizens 'Eid Mubarak.'

The event highlighted the Chief Adviser’s symbolic participation in the electoral process, emphasizing renewal and collective engagement in shaping the country’s future.

Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan, spokesperson of the National Citizens Party (NCP) and former sports adviser to the interim government, cast his vote in the 13th national election and referendum. He voted on Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. at the Government Laboratory School polling center under the Dhaka-10 constituency in the capital.

According to the election data, Dhaka-10 has a total of 382,184 registered voters, including 199,964 men, 182,224 women, and six third-gender voters. The constituency contains 136 polling centers. Eleven candidates are contesting in this seat, including BNP’s Rabiul Islam Robi (symbol: paddy sheaf), Jatiya Oikya Jote’s Jasim Uddin Sarkar (balance scale), Bahni Bepari (plough), Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Abdul Awal (hand fan), Labour Party’s Abul Kalam Azad (pineapple), Amar Bangladesh Party’s Nasrin Sultana (eagle), Sangskritik Mukti Jote’s Anisur Rahman (stick), Bangladesh Republican Party’s Abu Hanif Hridoy (elephant), and Am Janatar Dal’s Abdullah Al Hussain (butterfly).

The voting process in Dhaka-10 reflects active participation from multiple political alliances and independent candidates, highlighting a competitive electoral environment.

Former chief coordinator of Kushtia Jubo Dal, Abdul Majed, was taken into police custody on Thursday morning from the Khajanagar area. The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m., according to local reports. Kushtia District Commissioner and Returning Officer Iqbal Hossain confirmed the detention, stating that Majed was taken into custody based on information suggesting he might attempt to intimidate voters and influence the election process.

The report indicates that the action was preventive in nature, linked to concerns over possible voter intimidation during the ongoing election period. Authorities have not released further details about the duration or conditions of Majed’s custody. The development comes amid heightened election-related activities and security measures in Kushtia and other districts.

No additional information was provided about any charges or subsequent legal proceedings following the detention.

At the Nakhalpara Government Primary School polling center, senior reporter Gazi Shahnewaz of the newspaper Amar Desh was obstructed by police and Ansar members when attempting to enter on February 12, 2026. Despite identifying himself as a journalist, officers delayed him under the pretext of verifying his credentials, citing instructions from the presiding officer. When questioned, the presiding officer, Khalid, denied any obstruction, claiming the journalist was visible on camera. The Election Commission secretary, when informed, said he had not observed any problems at polling centers.

The Nakhalpara school housed two polling centers with a total of 5,590 registered voters. Within two and a half hours, only 200 and 250 votes were cast respectively, reflecting an 8 percent turnout. Voter turnout was visibly low, with no long queues observed. A 77-year-old voter expressed satisfaction with the voting environment, noting that many voters cast their ballots early after morning prayers.

In addition to entry restrictions, the journalist was also prevented from live-streaming voters outside the polling room, allegedly under presiding officer orders, though the officer denied issuing such instructions.