Voting in the highly anticipated 13th parliamentary election and the referendum on the July National Charter is underway amid a festive and peaceful atmosphere across the country.

Polling for the election started at 7:30am and will continue until 4:30pm without any break across 299 of the 300 constituencies, following the postponement of voting in one seat due to the death of a candidate.

Voting begins at the scheduled time after completing the preparation of ballot papers, seals, and other formalities at the polling station.

According to information sent by 'The Finance Today's correspondents from various parts of the country, including the capital; voters arrived at the centers and took their seats before the scheduled time. In some places, long queues formed in front of the polling centres.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin cast his vote at Eskaton Garden High School in Dhaka at 9:45am on Thursday morning.

Meanwhile, Advisors of the Interim government, top leaders of the political parties and civil society's representatives casting their vote at the designated polling station.

Interim Government Advisors

Interim government's Chief adviser Muhammad Yunus cast his vote at the Gulshan Model School and College polling centre in Dhaka at 10:30am.

Advisor Faruk E Azam cast his ballot at Bangladesh Mahila Samity High School in Chattogram at 7:30am. 

Meanwhile, top leaders of the political parties are casting their vote at the designated polling station.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)

BNP Chairman and Dhaka-17 candidate Tarique Rahman cast his vote at the Gulshan Model School and College polling centre at around 9:45am on Thursday.

He was accompanied by his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman and their daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman.

Dr Zubaida Rahman cast her vote at the Gulshan Model School and College polling centre in Dhaka At 10:02am.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir cast his vote at the Thakurgaon Government Girls’ High School polling centre in his home district shortly after voting began at 7:30am.

BNP Joint Secretary General and Lakshmipur-3 (Sadar) candidate Sahiduddin Chowdhury Anee cast his vote at Lamchari Government Primary School around 7:30am.

Gono Odhikar Parishad President and Patuakhali-3 candidate Nurul Haque Nur cast his vote at the Galachipa Government Model Secondary School polling centre at 9:59am.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman cast his vote at Monipur High School (Boys’ Section) polling centre in the capital's Mirpur 60 Feet area around 8:30am. 

Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar cast his vote at the West Shiromoni Government Primary School polling centre in Khulna at 8:37am on Wednesday.

Islami Andolon Bangladesh

Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim, senior nayeb-e-ameer of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, cast his vote at the Rupatali Government Secondary School polling centre in Barishal city around 9:48am

Khilafat Majlis

Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Md Mamunul Haque, the Jamaat alliance-nominated candidate contesting with the rickshaw symbol, cast his vote on Wednesday morning.

He cast his vote at 8:10am at the Government Physical Education College polling centre on Sat Masjid Road in Mohammadpur, Dhaka.

National Citizen Party (NCP)

Nahid Islam, convener of the National Citizen Party (NCP) and candidate of the 11-party alliance in Dhaka-11 constituency cast his vote at AKM Rahmat Ullah University College centre in Beraid around 8am.

Hasnat Abdullah; NCP's chief organiser of the southern region cast his vote at 7:40am at Gopalnagar High School polling station in Cumilla.

Hasnat is contesting in Cumilla-4 constituency from the 11-party alliance led by Jamat.

Big day for Bangladesh's democracy: EU observers

European Union Election Observation Mission Chief Ivars Ijabs has called Thursday “a big day” for Bangladesh’s democracy.

Around 7:30am, he led a delegation to the Siddheswari Girls’ College polling centre in Dhaka to monitor voting.

“The centre opened on time. We are closely observing stations across the country,” he said, adding that he expects an “acceptable and fair election based on everyone’s participation”.