Election day often brings long queues, inked fingers and heated political talk. On Thursday afternoon, it also brought a touch of classic Dhaka cinema nostalgia as three beloved sisters of the big screen arrived together to cast their votes.
Siblings Suchanda, Babita and Champa, fondly remembered as the “Three Daughters” of Bangladeshi films, turned heads at the Gulshan Model High School polling centre when they stepped out of their cars, smiling and greeting curious voters.
For a brief moment, the busy polling station felt like a film premiere, with cameras flashing and onlookers whispering the names of the stars whose films once defined an era.
The country was already immersed in the rhythm of the 13th national parliamentary elections. Since morning, voters across Bangladesh had been heading to polling centres amid tight security and a festive mood.
Yet the appearance of the three sisters added a softer, cultural layer to the day’s political narrative.
After casting her ballot, Babita spoke about her hopes for the future. She wished for peace, less corruption and a safer environment where artists could continue their creative work without fear or obstacles. Her words reflected a sentiment often heard among cultural figures during election seasons: that governance and creativity are deeply connected.
Inside the polling centre, voters waited patiently, some stealing glances at the actresses who had shaped decades of popular cinema. Many approached them for photos, turning an ordinary civic act into a shared memory between stars and fans.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission reported steady turnout nationwide. Senior Secretary of the EC Secretariat Akhtar Ahmed said at a press briefing that by noon, about 32.88 per cent of votes had been cast in 32,789 centres out of a total of 42,651. The data covered the period from 7:30am to midday. He noted that although a few isolated incidents were reported, voting had not been suspended anywhere.
As the day unfolded, the sisters quietly left the centre, their presence lingering in conversations among voters. In an election dominated by numbers, strategies and speeches, their joint appearance served as a reminder that civic participation crosses professions and generations, even for the stars who once lit up the silver screen.