By SM Najmus Sakib
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AA) - Voters in Bangladesh began casting their ballots Thursday to elect a new government for the first time since a popular uprising ended the 15-year rule of the Awami League party.
More than 127.6 million people are eligible to vote and will also render their verdict on constitutional reforms.
Voting began at 7.30 am (0130GMT) and will continue for nine hours before closing at 4.30 pm (1030GMT).
The results are likely to trickle in by late Thursday local time as people elect 300 members of parliament through 42,000 voting centers across the nation.
A total of 51 political parties and 2,034 candidates are competing for parliamentary seats, including 275 independent contenders.
In addition to the 300 general seats where candidates are elected directly by the people, parliament includes 50 reserved seats for women, bringing the total size of the house to 350 members.
Heavy security arrangements are in place with CCTV cameras installed in more than 90% of the electoral constituencies.
Some 958,000 personnel from various law enforcement agencies, including 100,000 soldiers, have been deployed to maintain law and order across Bangladesh.
Voting in one electoral constituency has been suspended due to the passing away of a candidate.
A Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led-alliance and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance are the two main contenders after the Awami League party of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was barred from the polls.
The referendum vote carries constitutional reforms, including a proposal to reinstate a neutral, non-party caretaker administration to oversee all future general elections.
Of the total voters, 45.9 million are young and first-time, many of whom dominated the 2024 popular movement dubbed the 'July uprising' when Hasina fled the country and crossed into India, where she currently lives.
An interim government led Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has overseen affairs since August 2024.
Last November, Hasina was sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity committed during the uprising.
Up to 1,400 people were killed during demonstrations which ousted her government, according to UN data.
The 2024 youth movement which transformed into National Citizen Party (NCP), led by young activists who led the July Uprising, and some other smaller parties, are contesting the election in alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami party.
