Dhaka, Feb. 12 -- After 17 years of waiting, the people of Bangladesh went to polls on Thursday morning for a historic national election, hoping to restore true democracy and secure a powerful mandate for national reforms.

The voting that began at 7:30am will continue until 4:30pm without any break at 42,659 polling stations in 299 out of 300 constituencies across the country amid the presence of nearly one million security personnel and another one million polling staff.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus and BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman will cast their votes at the Gulshan Model School and College centre in the capital.

The Chief Adviser will cast his vote at 10am, according to his press wing.

Tarique Rahman is expected to cast his vo...