DHAKA: Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus on Thursday cast his vote in Dhaka, describing the country’s first post-uprising elections as the “birthday of a new Bangladesh”.
Yunus voted at the Gulshan Model School and College polling station around 10:00am local time, as millions of Bangladeshis took part in parliamentary elections and a constitutional referendum seen as pivotal to reshaping the country’s political future.
“This is a day of great joy. Today is the birthday of a new Bangladesh. We will celebrate this birthday throughout the day,” Yunus said, referring to the polls that follow the student-led uprising which toppled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League government nearly 18 months ago.
“Through today’s process, people have rejected the past. Whatever nightmarish past existed, we have completely discarded it,” he said. “From today, at every step, we have gained the opportunity to build a new Bangladesh.”
He stressed the importance of the referendum alongside the parliamentary contest.
“Voting for a candidate is important, but the referendum is very important. The whole of Bangladesh will change,” Yunus said, adding that the day marked “the end of our nightmares and the beginning of new dreams.”
The elections — Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary polls — are widely seen as a crucial step toward restoring democratic governance after last year’s political upheaval.
Voters began lining up outside polling stations from as early as 6:00am, with long queues forming across the capital and other cities, reflecting strong public engagement and hopes for a transparent electoral process.
