Voting began on Thursday morning in Bangladesh’s crucial general election — the first since the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in massive nationwide protests in August 2024.

The voting started in 299 out of 300 parliamentary constituencies across the country from 7:30 a.m. (local time) and will continue until 4:30 p.m. The counting of votes is expected to begin shortly after the voting concludes.

Voting in one constituency has been cancelled due to the death of a candidate. 

The Election Commission has made elaborate security arrangements, deploying nearly 1 million security personnel — the largest-ever in the country’s electoral history. 

PTI