By The South Asia Times

DHAKA, Bangladesh  -  Election authorities in Bangladesh began counting ballots late Thursday in the country's first general election since the 2024 mass uprising that ended Sheikh Hasina's 15-year authoritarian rule, with preliminary results expected by midnight, according to Anadolu Agency.

The Election Commission reported a 47.9% voter turnout across more than 36,000 polling stations before closing time, according to Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.

Final turnout figures will be compiled as returns from all 42,000-plus centres are tabulated.

More than 127.6 million Bangladeshis were eligible to vote in both the parliamentary election and a concurrent referendum on sweeping constitutional reforms known as the "July Charter."

- 'The end of our nightmare'

Interim leader and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus cast his ballot early Thursday at Dhaka City College, emerging to address a throng of journalists.

"Today is a day of joy for all of Bangladesh—a day of liberation," Yunus said. "The end of our nightmare, the beginning of new dreams."

His words echoed across a nation still scarred by the July 2024 uprising, which left approximately 1,400 people dead and thousands injured, according to UN figures. Hasina, who fled to India during the unrest, has remained in exile as her Awami League party was barred from contesting the election.

- Peaceful voting amid isolated incidents

Despite pre-poll fears of violence, Thursday's voting proceeded with relative calm. Authorities deployed nearly one million security personnel  -- the largest such force in Bangladesh's electoral history -- to safeguard polling stations.

The Election Commission reported two minor incidents involving crude Molotov cocktails: one in Chauddagram in eastern Bangladesh, another in Gopalganj Sadar. Neither caused significant damage or casualties.

One death was reported in Bhairab, Kishoreganj, according to daily Prothom Alo, though circumstances remained unclear. Several minor injuries were recorded elsewhere.

- Leadership at the ballot box

Leaders of the two main political alliances cast their votes in the capital Dhaka.

Tarique Rahman, 60, who returned from 17 years of exile in the United Kingdom following the December 2025 death of his mother and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, voted at Dhaka College. His Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is leading a 10-party alliance contesting 292 seats.

Shafiqur Rahman, Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami -- banned for years under Hasina --voted in the city's Mohammadpur area. His 11-party alliance, which includes the student-founded National Citizen Party (NCP), is contesting 224 seats.

- A crowded field

A total of 51 political parties and 2,034 candidates are competing for 300 directly elected parliamentary seats. Among them are 275 independent contenders. An additional 50 seats are reserved for women, allocated proportionally to parties based on their vote share.

International observers from multiple organisations -- 394 in total -- are monitoring the process, joined by approximately 197 foreign journalists accredited by the Election Commission.

Counting is underway at all polling centres under tight security. Unofficial results are expected to emerge from late Thursday into Friday morning. The winning party or coalition will form the next government and, if the July Charter passes, must implement its constitutional reforms within 180 days.

For a nation that endured 15 years of single-party rule, systematic repression of dissent, and the trauma of a bloody uprising, Thursday's relative peace and orderly voting represented a fragile but palpable step toward democratic restoration.