Dr Shafiqur Rahman, Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, cast his ballot this morning, saying the youth hope for a credible election that would produce a government belonging to “180mn people, not an individual, a family or a party”.

Rahman voted at 8 am at Manikpur High School in Mirpur, Dhaka-15 constituency, where he is contesting as a candidate of an 11-party alliance under the scales symbol.

“For one and a half decades, the people of this country couldn’t vote. Neither could I,” he told reporters after voting. “I was in jail in 2014, 2018 and 2024. I didn’t get the chance to vote. After losing those three votes, Almighty Allah has given [me] the opportunity.”

The Jamaat leader voiced optimism that the 13th parliamentary election would produce an administration representative of the entire population. “We are hopeful regarding the formation of that government,” he said.