Dhaka, Feb. 12 -- Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman has cast his vote in the 13th parliamentary elections.

He entered the Monipur Uchcha Vidyalaya and College (Boy's Branch) at 8:20am.

There, he cast his ballot in a booth on the college's third floor at 8:30am.

Afterwards, he spoke to the media.

"It has been a long wait. Our countrymen have not been able to vote after a decade and a half. I could not either. I was in jail in 2014, 2018, and 2024, and did not have the chance to vote. After losing these three votes, today, Alhamdulillah, Allah Ta'ala has given us the opportunity to vote again. I thank the Almighty Allah.

"I pray that Allah Ta'ala will start a new chapter in Bangladesh through this vote."

The Jamaat ameer said: "I ...