Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser to the interim government, cast his ballot on Thursday morning at Gulshan Model High School and College in Dhaka during the 13th Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) Election. Arriving at the polling center around 10:20am, Dr Yunus described the moment as one of “great joy,” referring to it as “the birthday of the new Bangladesh.”

Speaking to reporters after voting, he said the country had “completely renounced the nightmarish past” and urged all citizens to take part actively in both the parliamentary election and the concurrent national referendum. According to the Dhaka Tribune, the Nobel laureate also extended his greetings to the nation, saying “Eid Mubarak,” expressing optimism about a new democratic beginning.

Polling for the 13th National Parliament Election began at 7:30am and will continue until 4:30pm across 299 constituencies. A total of 42,659 polling stations nationwide are operating under tight security as millions of voters turn out in what many view as a defining moment for Bangladesh’s political future

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