As Bangladesh’s electorate casts ballots on Thursday in the country’s 13th national parliamentary election and concurrent referendum, United Nations Human Rights experts have called on the interim government to ensure a genuinely free, fair, safe, and inclusive electoral process grounded in respect for fundamental human rights.In a strongly worded statement, the UN experts stressed that “there can be no free and fair election or meaningful political discourse without equal rights to freedom of opinion and expression, access to information and media freedom.” They highlighted growing intolerance, threats, and attacks on journalists, civil society actors, women’s groups, and minorities in recent months.Polling opened nationwide at 7.30 am under tight security and a heavy law-and-order presence, with armed forces and police deployed across tens of thousands of polling stations.According to the Election Commission, 32.88 per cent of eligible voters had cast their ballots by noon, with voting progressing steadily in all constituencies and no polling centre formally suspended as of midday.Security officials and election observers described the overall environment as largely peaceful and orderly, though isolated incidents of violence — including crude bomb blasts and sporadic clashes — have been reported.The polls encompass more than 127 million eligible voters at 42,779 polling centres, with new measures such as extensive CCTV surveillance, drones, and body-worn cameras deployed to bolster oversight.Despite official assurances of a peaceful atmosphere, reports have emerged of security incidents and political tensions. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) alleged irregularities ahead of voting day and urged voters to maintain calm, while crude explosive devices were detonated at select polling sites.Women’s groups and UN agencies have also voiced concerns about harassment and violence aimed at female candidates and voters, calling for zero tolerance of intimidation and threats.The UN experts reiterated that the interim Government must ensure all law enforcement personnel act in line with international human rights standards and be accountable under transparent civilian and judicial oversight. They criticised the Election Commission’s handling of breaches of the electoral code and urged urgent action to counter misinformation targeting millions of social media users, particularly young, first-time voters.The experts also called on political parties and candidates to refrain from disinformation, incitement, and discriminatory rhetoric that could undermine public trust in the electoral process.This election — the first since mass protests in 2024 that led to the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina — is widely seen as a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s democratic evolution. International observers are present in significant numbers, and both local and foreign media are closely monitoring developments.Whether the ongoing polling will meet international standards for freedom and fairness remains subject to continuing scrutiny, with final turnout figures and results expected once voting concludes later on Thursday.