Bangladesh Votes in First Election Since Hasina Ousting
Bangladesh will vote on February 12 in its first national election since the dramatic ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024, an event that reshaped the countryâs political landscape. The student-led uprising that forced Hasina from power ended a long chapter of Awami League dominance, led to the deaths of about 1,400 people after troops were deployed against protesters, and paved the way for a caretaker administration under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus . Hasina, convicted in absentia for permitting the lethal crackdown and now sentenced to death by a tribunal in Bangladesh, has been living in exile in India. With the Awami League barred from political activity, Bangladesh enters the 13th Parliamentary Election without its most dominant force, leaving voters to choose among new and long-standing players, shifting alliances, and competing visions for a country that has undergone profound turmoil. The February polls will elect 350 members to the Jatiya Sangsad, Bangladeshâs parliament, with about 127 million eligible voters. The election will take place alongside a referendum on the July National Charter 2025, a document drafted after the uprising that proposes changes to governance, fundamental rights, representation, and judicial independence. For many Bangladeshis, the election represents a test of the post-Hasina order. The Main Contenders: BNP, Jamaat, And The NCP-Led Coalition With the Awami League out of the race, two large blocs dominate the field. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), now led by Tarique Rahman, is contesting as part of a 10-party coalition. Jamaat-e-Islami (Jamaat), whose registration was restored in 2025 after years of repression under Hasina, is leading an 11-party alliance that includes the National Citizen Party (NCP), a group formed by leaders of the 2024 student movement. The BNP is one of the countryâs oldest political forces. Founded in 1978 by Ziaur Rahman and later led for decades by Khaleda Zia, it has historically alternated power with the Awami League. Tarique Rahman returned from 17 years in exile in December 2025 to assume leadership, shortly before his motherâs death. The party has attempted to revive itself at both central and grassroots levels and has been drawing large crowds at its rallies. A December survey by the International Republican Institute placed its support at about 33 per cent. Rahman has framed his campaign as a unifying project, telling citizens, âWe will build a Bangladesh that a mother dreams of," and urging Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians alike to join him in creating a secure and inclusive nation. Jamaat-e-Islami has a long and controversial history. Founded in 1941, it opposed Bangladeshâs independence in 1971 and was banned in the aftermath, only to be reinstated by Ziaur Rahman in 1979. It later governed in coalition with the BNP in 1991 and 2001. Under Hasina, the party faced executions and imprisonment of its leaders for crimes committed during the independence war and was barred from contesting elections in 2013. The Supreme Court restored its registration in June 2025, enabling it to return to electoral politics. Led by Shafiqur Rahman, Jamaat has focused on reorganising itself into a strong nationwide force. At a recent rally, Rahman declared that the election âwill be a turning point" and âan election to bury the rotten politics of the past". The International Republican Institute survey suggested the Jamaat-led alliance at number two, with 29 per cent, closely behind the BNP. For the first time in its history, the party is also fielding a Hindu candidate, Krishna Nandi, in an attempt to attract minority communities. The National Citizen Party, formed in 2025 by students who led the 2024 uprising, has a distinct identity shaped by the protest movement. Led by 27-year-old Nahid Islam, the NCP is built around promises of âgovernance without corruption", a free press, expanded representation for women, and improved relations with neighbouring countries including India. But limited resources pushed it into alliance with Jamaat, a move that sparked internal resignations and criticism that its values clashed with Jamaatâs historical positions on Bangladeshâs independence. Islam defended the decision in an interview, saying, âWhen we are forming an electoral alliance, we are not abandoning our own political beliefs. Itâs just a strategic alliance." Other parties, including Islami Andolan Bangladesh and the Jatiya Party, are contesting independently, adding to a diverse but fractured political field. What The Manifestos Say Tarique Rahmanâs BNP has released its manifesto with the tagline âShobar Aage Bangladesh" (Bangladesh First), outlining its foreign policy and domestic commitments. At the launch, Rahman said the party would treat other nations as âfriends" and not âmasters", and that Bangladesh would build relations on equality and self-respect. He said the BNP would take âa strict position" to stop âborder killing, push-ins, and smuggling", and stated that âBangladesh shall not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, and will not accept interference in its own affairs". The manifesto promises legal protections for the life, property and places of worship of minorities, along with stipends and welfare programmes for leaders of all faiths. It states, âReligion is individual, the state is for all. Will ensure the right to perform religious rituals and celebrate festivals without any hindrance." It additionally pledges family cards in the name of the woman head of the household and free education for women up to the postgraduate level. Jamaatâs manifesto, released by Shafiqur Rahman, promises âpeaceful, friendly, and cooperative relations" with India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Thailand, based on âmutual respect and fairness". The document does not mention Pakistan but says the party will prioritise ties with Muslim-majority countries and pursue âconstructive relations" with the United States, the European Union, Japan, the United Kingdom and Canada. While Jamaatâs leaders have been blamed for the rise in attacks on Hindus, the manifesto only promises representation for âreligious and ethnic minorities" and does not include specific commitments on their safety. It has also pledged greater inclusion of women in governance and leadership roles, a departure from its hardline stance. The July Charter Bangladesh will vote not only in the parliamentary election but also in a national referendum on the July Charter 2025, a document drafted after the student-led uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina. After taking charge in August 2024, Muhammad Yunus formed the Constitution Reform Commission in 2025 to propose changes to how the country is governed. According to Al Jazeera , the commission recommended an anticorruption mechanism, electoral reforms and new rules the police must follow, among other measures. The July Charter is the outcome of this work, and voters will decide whether to approve it. Voters will be issued two ballots: A white ballot for their local MP and a pink ballot for the referendum. Yunus has expressed confidence that people and political parties will accept the charter. Where Does Sheikh Hasina Stand Now? Hasina is still regarded as a factor influencing voters who previously supported the Awami League. Although the party is banned and cannot field candidates, a portion of its base has not switched allegiance, with some members living a harsh life either within Bangladesh or abroad. Her continued ability to command loyalty is one reason her statements are restricted inside the country and why the interim government remains alert to her political impact as the election approaches. What To Watch On February 12 The BNP and Jamaat alliances enter the election as the two strongest contenders, with opinion polls placing them in a close race. The NCPâs role, though diminished by its alliance with Jamaat, reflects the continuing impact of the youth-led uprising that reshaped national politics. For voters, the election represents a choice not only among parties but among competing interpretations of Bangladeshâs past and its future. With the Awami League absent, a fragmented political landscape, and questions about the balance between democracy and stability, February 12 will mark a decisive moment in a country still navigating the aftershocks of its most consequential uprising in decades.
&w=3840&q=75)
&w=3840&q=75)
%2Fodishatv%2Fmedia%2Fmedia_files%2F2026%2F02%2F07%2Fmahanandi-2026-02-07-20-19-31.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
&w=3840&q=75)
&w=3840&q=75)
&w=3840&q=75)
