The 11-party supported candidate and member-secretary of NCP Akhter Hossen  arrived at the Bhayerahat Girls High School polling center Kawnia upazila Rangpur with his mother at 8:30 am on Thursday. Photo: BSS

RANGPUR, Feb 12, 2026 (BSS) - Polling in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad Elections 
and Referendum, 2026 began amid a festive atmosphere with huge participation 
of voters, especially females in all 33 constituencies of Rangpur division at 
7:30 am today.
 
People from all walks of life were found queuing in lines in almost every 
polling centers of Rangpur city and other places at the upazila levels to 
cast their votes with huge enthusiasm in festive mood after a long time.
 
The enthusiasm among young people and young voters between the ages of 18 and 
35 was unprecedented, as they were exercising their right to vote for the 
first time in their lives to elect their preferred public representatives.

The law enforcement agencies and authorities have taken six-tier tight 
security measures to hold the 13th Jatiya Sangsad Elections and Referendum in 
a free, fair, impartial, transparent and peaceful manner.

The 11-party supported candidate and member-secretary of NCP Akhter Hossen 
arrived at the Bhayerahat Girls High School polling center in Tepamadhupur 
union of Kawnia upazila Rangpur with his mother at 8:30 am on Thursday. 
 
He assisted his mother cast her vote at that polling station at around 8:45 
am.
 
Akhter Hossen, who is an enlisted voter of a Dhaka constituency, could not 
vote in his own constituency of Rangpur-4 (Pirgachha-Kawnia).

The 11-party supported candidate and Nayeb-E-Ameer of Jamaat-E-Islami ATM 
Azharul Islam cast his vote at the Nehar School polling center in Badarganj 
municipality in his constituency Rangpur-2 (Taraganj-Badarganj) at 10 am 
today.
 
Jatiya Party Chairman GM Quader could not cast his vote at his Rangpur-3 
(Sadar-Rangpur City) this time as he is also enrolled in a Dhaka constituency 
as a voter.
 
Local observers said that a wonderful festive atmosphere like Eid-ul-Fitr has 
been created here as hundreds of local voters working in the mills, factories 
and other establishments in the capital city or other areas have returned 
home just to cast their votes.

 
Talking to BSS at 11:40 am, Rangpur Regional Election Officer Md Delwar 
Hossain said that the polling began amid a festive atmosphere at all polling 
centers in all 33 parliamentary constituencies of eight districts in Rangpur 
division at 7:30 am.

"The participation of voters irrespective of political affiliation, caste, 
creed, religion and profession is very much encouraging this time. The 
presence of female voters in the polling centers is remarkable," he said, 
quoting primary reports reaching from across the division.

So far, no untoward incident has been reported from anywhere of all 33 
constituencies in Rangpur division where members of the police, army, BGB, 
RAB and Ansar-VDP and other agencies are ensuring full proof security for the 
voters and everyone.

"Basing on my previous experience, I hope that this 13th Jatiya Sangsad 
Elections and Referendum, 2026 is being held in atmospheres like during the 
national elections held in 1991, 1996 and 2001 in Rangpur division," Dewar 
Hossain added.

He said a total of 237 candidates of different political parties and 
independent candidates are contesting in all 33 parliamentary constituencies 
in the 13th JS elections in Rangpur division. 

 "A total of one crore 34 lakh 54 thousand 456 voters, including male and 
female voters, are expected to cast their votes at 4,546 polling centres in 
33 constituencies of the division," he said.

"Election officials like presiding officers, assistant presiding officers and 
polling officers are conducting the polls in a completely impartial and 
transparent manner and journalists and observers are watching the whole 
process everywhere," he said.

 The voting process will continue uninterrupted until 4:30 pm today and the 
process of counting votes will begin then after, he said.
 
Rangpur District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Enamul 
Ahsan told BSS that a total of 25,99,202 voters are likely to cast their 
votes in the six parliamentary constituencies of Rangpur district. 

"Of them, 13,06,333 are female and 12,92,838 are male and 31 transgender 
(hijra) voters in the district," he said. 
 
Polling is progressing peacefully amid tight security measures in 4,988 
booths in a total of 873 polling centers in the district where 44 candidates 
from different political parties and independents are contesting in this JS 
polls. 

"We are working professionally and will spare none if found violating the 
election rules or involved in crimes to hold a free, fair, transparent JS 
election in a festive atmosphere," he added.