Selfies and ink: Youth enthusiasm lights up Dhaka polling centres
Around 500 voters stood in separate lines for men and women in front of the centre in the morning, with the crowd continuing to grow as the day progressed.
A long queue began forming outside Kalyanpur Girls' School and College in Dhaka-14 from 7:30am, where young voters gathered early, many preparing to cast their first ballots and sharing their excitement with friends and on social media.
Sisters Zinat Anifin and Jenifa Tasnim cast their votes for the first time this year and left the centre by 8am, taking selfies while showing the ink on their fingers.
Zinat said she did not vote previously because "there was no environment for voting," but adds that she liked the environment this time.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
She said she hopes representatives reflect the aspirations of the people in their actions.
Jenifa said simply, "This is my first vote. I feel very excited to be able to vote for the first time."
Around 500 voters stood in separate lines for men and women in front of the centre in the morning, with the crowd continuing to grow as the day progressed.
A festive atmosphere surrounds the area, and the presence of young voters is particularly noticeable.
Conversations with about 20 young voters revealed that many feel satisfied with the election environment this year.
Several said that security measures and discipline at the centres help build confidence.
One young voter said, "As citizens, everyone should vote. Voting is our right, and also our responsibility."
Some voters also said that if the environment had resembled previous elections, many might not have come.
In their view, a fair and transparent atmosphere remains essential for a participatory election.
Johur, a young voter, said he became eligible to vote earlier but chose not to participate at the time.
"There were fears about the environment then. This time the environment seemed good, so I voted," he said, adding that elected representatives should maintain public trust through their work.
Mohammad Saddam, 26, said that although he became a voter in 2018, he cast his first vote this year.
"Being able to vote made me feel like a true citizen," he said.
Another voter, 25-year-old Mohammad Samir, said he expects representatives to focus on youth employment and higher education issues in Parliament.
Two sisters, Daleya Akter and Tania Akter, cast their first votes by 10am.
Daleya described the experience as extraordinary and said, "I was able to vote for exactly whom I wanted to – that is the greatest joy."
Tania said they are both proud to have fulfilled their responsibility as citizens, adding that the experience will remain memorable.
Presiding Officer Sohag Hossain Jomaddar of Centre No 106 said, "The atmosphere feels festive. People are coming with a sense of excitement. The Election Commission has created a better environment this time."
According to the Election Commission, the number of voters aged 18 to 35 is around 5 crore. Under the National Youth Policy 2017, citizens aged 18 to 35 are defined as youth.
