Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter. File photo

DHAKA, Feb 12, 2026 (BSS) - Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter today said voters are being able to cast their votes freely due to the government’s all-out efforts to ensure a fair and congenial electoral environment.

She said the interim government, from the very beginning, had three mandates before it –- holding trial, reforms and election -- with the final mandate being holding of the national election.

“The government has tried with utmost sincerity to ensure such an environment where voters can freely vote for their candidates of choice,” Farida Akhter told journalists.

The adviser was speaking after casting her vote and visiting the polling centre today at Ananda School (Government Jamila Ainul Ananda School and College) in Mohammadpur area of the capital on the 13th Jatiya Sangsad Election and Referendum-2026.

She said voters are electing their preferred candidates and there is no scope for imposing anyone’s personal choice on them. “People’s enthusiasm about voting is clearly visible,” she added.

Farida Akhter noted that the polling booths are highly orderly and the officials on duty are performing their responsibilities with sincerity and professionalism.

She further said that efforts have been made to hold the 13th Jatiya Sangsad Election and Referendum-2026 in an open and democratic atmosphere, and that the election is being held successfully so far.