DHAKA: Counting began in Bangladesh's pivotal national election on Thursday (Feb 12) after tens of millions of people voted for a new government following the 2024 ouster of long-time premier Sheikh Hasina in a tumultuous Gen Z-driven uprising . Although final figures were not immediately available, Akhtar Ahmed, senior secretary of the Election Commission, told reporters that nearly half the electorate had voted at 36,031 of the 42,651 polling centres by 2pm (4pm, Singapore time), with two-and-