Akhter Ahmed, senior secretary of the Election Commission (EC) secretariat spoke to journalists at Nirbachon Bhaban in Agargaon. Photo: Collected

DHAKA, Feb 12, 2026 (BSS) - Voting turnout reached 32.88 percent by 12 pm today as voters exercised their rights smoothly and spontaneously across polling centers during the 13th national parliamentary election and referendum.

Akhter Ahmed, senior secretary of the Election Commission (EC) secretariat, confirmed the figure while speaking to journalists at Nirbachon Bhaban in Agargaon.

"We have received reports from 32,789 polling centers out of 42,651, and the voting rate at these centers is 32.88 percent," he said.

Voting began at 7:30 am across 299 constituencies, and no delays have been reported so far, he added while casting his vote at a center in Dhanmondi around 8:20 am.

The EC official said the data collection system has been updated for this election, requiring slightly more time to update turnout information. "Previously, information was collected from presiding officers, but now it is gathered from Assistant Returning Officers for accuracy," he explained.

Referring to isolated incidents in different areas, Akhter Ahmed said that no polling center had its voting suspended. "The situation in these areas is under control, and the local administration has taken necessary action," he added.

The senior secretary thanked voters for their enthusiastic participation and urged everyone to cast their votes promptly upon arrival at polling centers.

Expressing condolences over the death of an assistant presiding officer at a polling center in a Mymensingh constituency early Wednesday, he said another official has been assigned, and voting continues normally in the area.