Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir cast his vote on Thursday morning in the Thakurgaon-1 (Sadar) constituency, describing the election as a decisive moment that will determine the country’s political direction and future. Speaking to journalists after voting at the Thakurgaon Government Girls’ High School polling center, Fakhrul said the ballot marked the beginning of what he called a renewed journey of democracy in Bangladesh.
Fakhrul arrived at the polling station shortly after 7:30 a.m. accompanied by family members, including his wife Rahat Ara Begum, daughters Shamaruh Mirza and Mirza Safaruh, and his younger brother, District BNP President Mirza Faisal Amin. After casting his vote, he expressed optimism about the significance of the day, saying that a national parliamentary election had taken place after what he characterized as 15 years of authoritarian rule.
He described the vote as one of the most important events in the country’s history, asserting that it would determine not only the trajectory of politics but also the broader future of Bangladesh. Fakhrul said he hoped the electoral process would guide the nation’s political, economic, and social life toward what he termed the desired goals of its people in the years ahead.
The BNP leader also reflected on the struggles and sacrifices that preceded the election, saying the day had come after overcoming significant obstacles, violence, and loss of life. He paid tribute to former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, noting that she had led a long movement before her death. Fakhrul alleged that many activists and citizens had faced repression, including enforced disappearances and killings, and claimed that nearly two thousand students, farmers, workers, and ordinary people died during unrest on July 24. He said these sacrifices had paved the way for the current vote and expressed hope that the election would be free, fair, impartial, and peaceful, opening a new chapter for the country.
According to the District Election Office, Thakurgaon-1 has a total of 511,629 registered voters. Three candidates are contesting the constituency: Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir representing the BNP, Delwar Hossain of Jamaat-e-Islami, and Khademul Islam of Islami Andolan Bangladesh. The race is being closely watched as part of the broader national contest expected to shape Bangladesh’s post-crisis political landscape.
