Bangladesh Votes in Landmark Election After 2024 Uprising, With Constitutional Referendum and Islamist Challenge to BNP
127 million Bangladeshis cast ballots in the first free election since Sheikh Hasina's ouster, choosing between BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami while voting on sweeping democratic reforms.
Feb 12, 2026, 11:04 AM
Bangladeshis went to the polls on Thursday in the most consequential election the South Asian nation has seen in nearly two decades — the first general vote since a student-led uprising toppled longtime leader Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, ending her 15-year grip on power .
More than 127 million citizens were eligible to cast ballots for 300 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad, the national parliament, alongside a historic referendum on constitutional reforms . By 2:00 pm local time, the Election Commission reported voter turnout of nearly 48 percent across more than 36,000 polling stations — a significant increase from the 41 percent recorded in the boycott-marred January 2024 election Bangladesh: Voters head to polls after 2024 uprisingdw.com·Secondary.
A Two-Way Race Born of Revolution
The contest pits the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by Tarique Rahman, against a coalition headed by the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami under Shafiqur Rahman . Opinion polls gave the BNP a narrow lead, though some surveys suggested a knife-edge race Bangladesh goes to polls in crucial first election since deadly uprisingaljazeera.com·SecondaryBangladesh votes in first election since 2024 uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh is voting in an election seen as pivotal for the nation’s future as it seeks to chart a democratic course in the wake of the 2024 ouster of longtime leader Sheikh Hasina in a student-led uprising that killed hundreds..
Tarique Rahman, 60, is the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and has campaigned on an anticorruption platform. He told reporters that restoring security and economic stability would be his first priority if elected Bangladesh goes to polls in crucial first election since deadly uprisingaljazeera.com·SecondaryBangladesh votes in first election since 2024 uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh is voting in an election seen as pivotal for the nation’s future as it seeks to chart a democratic course in the wake of the 2024 ouster of longtime leader Sheikh Hasina in a student-led uprising that killed hundreds.. His party was sidelined during the Hasina years and boycotted the 2024 vote.
Jamaat-e-Islami, long excluded from mainstream politics, has mounted what analysts describe as its most disciplined grassroots campaign since Bangladesh gained independence in 1971 . Party chief Shafiqur Rahman, 67, a former political prisoner, has positioned Jamaat as a credible force for change, campaigning on justice and ending corruption Bangladesh goes to polls in crucial first election since deadly uprisingaljazeera.com·SecondaryBangladesh votes in first election since 2024 uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh is voting in an election seen as pivotal for the nation’s future as it seeks to chart a democratic course in the wake of the 2024 ouster of longtime leader Sheikh Hasina in a student-led uprising that killed hundreds.. A victory would make him the leader of the first Islamist-led government in constitutionally secular Bangladesh.
The Hasina Shadow
Sheikh Hasina, 78, was sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity related to the bloody crackdown on protesters during her final months in power . She remains in hiding in neighbouring India. Her Awami League party has been barred from contesting the election Bangladesh elections: Voting underway after 2024 uprisingdw.com·SecondaryWelcome to DW's coverage of Bangladesh's national election on Thursday, February 12: Several voters in Bangladesh have described to DW their hopes of what the election could bring. One man, who said he was in business, said he expected the elections to be fair and free this time round, adding that people "want the country to be corruption-free..
The August 2024 uprising, driven largely by students protesting job quotas, escalated into a broader movement against authoritarian rule and killed hundreds . Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, 85, stepped in as interim leader with a mandate to restore credible elections and build consensus around democratic reforms Bangladesh goes to polls in crucial first election since deadly uprisingaljazeera.com·SecondaryBangladesh votes in first election since 2024 uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh is voting in an election seen as pivotal for the nation’s future as it seeks to chart a democratic course in the wake of the 2024 ouster of longtime leader Sheikh Hasina in a student-led uprising that killed hundreds..
A Referendum on Democracy Itself
Alongside the parliamentary vote, Bangladeshis cast ballots on the July Charter — a sweeping reform package endorsed by 24 parties and drafted in the wake of the 2024 protests . The charter proposes term limits for prime ministers, a new upper house of parliament, stronger presidential powers, and greater judicial independence Bangladesh goes to polls in crucial first election since deadly uprisingaljazeera.com·SecondaryBangladesh votes in first election since 2024 uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh is voting in an election seen as pivotal for the nation’s future as it seeks to chart a democratic course in the wake of the 2024 ouster of longtime leader Sheikh Hasina in a student-led uprising that killed hundreds..
The reforms require only a simple majority to pass and, if approved, would be binding on the incoming government, which must implement them within 270 days Bangladeshi voters head to the polls in first general election since 2024 student-led uprising: follow livedw.com·Secondary4:30 p.m, with results expected by Friday Welcome to DW's coverage of Bangladesh's national election on Thursday, February 12. For the first time in decades, no major party is being led by a woman in Bangladesh elections. Women make up half of Bangladesh's voters but less than 5% of candidates. Watch what women say about the low number of female candidates this year.. Analysts at the International Crisis Group described the dual vote as a crucial test of whether Bangladesh can sustain its democratic transition Bangladesh goes to polls in crucial first election since deadly uprisingaljazeera.com·SecondaryBangladesh votes in first election since 2024 uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh is voting in an election seen as pivotal for the nation’s future as it seeks to chart a democratic course in the wake of the 2024 ouster of longtime leader Sheikh Hasina in a student-led uprising that killed hundreds..
Violence Mars Voting Day
The election was not without disruption. Police records show five people were killed and more than 600 injured during the campaign period Bangladesh goes to polls in crucial first election since deadly uprisingaljazeera.com·SecondaryBangladesh votes in first election since 2024 uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh is voting in an election seen as pivotal for the nation’s future as it seeks to chart a democratic course in the wake of the 2024 ouster of longtime leader Sheikh Hasina in a student-led uprising that killed hundreds.. On voting day itself, cocktail bomb explosions were reported near a polling centre in Comilla, sending voters fleeing before army and Border Guard units restored order. A BNP leader reportedly died at a polling station, with the party alleging an attack by Jamaat supporters.
Three polling officers were withdrawn from a station in Gazipur over vote-rigging allegations, and the Election Commission acknowledged it was investigating reports of violence and irregularities.
Security on an Unprecedented Scale
Authorities deployed more than 900,000 security personnel — including over 100,000 army troops — to guard roughly 43,000 polling stations nationwide, making it the largest security operation in Bangladesh electoral history . Nearly 90 percent of polling centres were equipped with CCTV surveillance, and the air force deployed drones to monitor stations Bangladesh elections: Voting underway after 2024 uprisingdw.com·SecondaryWelcome to DW's coverage of Bangladesh's national election on Thursday, February 12: Several voters in Bangladesh have described to DW their hopes of what the election could bring. One man, who said he was in business, said he expected the elections to be fair and free this time round, adding that people "want the country to be corruption-free.. The police inspector general had warned that 24,000 of the country’s polling centres carried a high or moderate risk classification Bangladesh elections: Voting underway after 2024 uprisingdw.com·SecondaryWelcome to DW's coverage of Bangladesh's national election on Thursday, February 12: Several voters in Bangladesh have described to DW their hopes of what the election could bring. One man, who said he was in business, said he expected the elections to be fair and free this time round, adding that people "want the country to be corruption-free..
What Comes Next
Ballot counting by hand began after polls closed at 4:30 pm local time, with results expected by Friday . Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin urged all parties and voters to accept the outcome, calling on Bangladesh to move beyond the era of centre-grabbing and ballot box capture Bangladesh votes in landmark polls after deadly 2024 uprisingfrance24.com·SecondaryBangladeshis voted on Thursday in the first election since a deadly 2024 uprising, with parties sidelined under Sheikh Hasina returning to contest power against a formidable political heir leading an Islamist-backed coalition. Long queues formed at polling stations in the capital Dhaka as voting began nationwide..
Farhana Sultana, a professor of geography at Syracuse University, told Al Jazeera that a credible result would create a foundation for tackling the country’s deep challenges, from youth unemployment and stagnating growth to climate adaptation Bangladesh votes in landmark polls after deadly 2024 uprisingfrance24.com·SecondaryBangladeshis voted on Thursday in the first election since a deadly 2024 uprising, with parties sidelined under Sheikh Hasina returning to contest power against a formidable political heir leading an Islamist-backed coalition. Long queues formed at polling stations in the capital Dhaka as voting began nationwide.. The next government inherits a battered economy in the world’s second-largest garment exporter, alongside delicate relations with neighbouring India Bangladesh goes to polls in crucial first election since deadly uprisingaljazeera.com·SecondaryBangladesh votes in first election since 2024 uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh is voting in an election seen as pivotal for the nation’s future as it seeks to chart a democratic course in the wake of the 2024 ouster of longtime leader Sheikh Hasina in a student-led uprising that killed hundreds..
Interim leader Yunus, who is not running in the election, urged citizens to honour the sacrifice of the 2024 uprising. In his address to the nation, he said the vote would determine the future direction of the country, the character of its democracy, its durability, and the fate of the next generation .
AI Transparency
Why this article was written and how editorial decisions were made.
Why This Topic
Bangladesh's 2026 general election is a watershed moment for South Asian democracy. It is the first free vote since the student-led uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina's 15-year authoritarian rule in August 2024, and it features an unprecedented concurrent referendum on constitutional reforms. The contest between the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami raises significant questions about secularism, Islamist politics, and democratic governance in a country of 170 million people. The story has immediate global relevance given Bangladesh's role as the world's second-largest garment exporter and its strategic position between India and Myanmar.
Source Selection
The article draws on six cluster signals from three tier-1 international outlets: Deutsche Welle (four live blog snapshots capturing evolving developments throughout the day), France 24 (comprehensive election-day report with voter quotes and candidate profiles), and Al Jazeera (in-depth analysis with expert commentary from on-the-ground correspondent and academic sources). These sources provide complementary perspectives — DW offers detailed security and procedural data, France 24 delivers candidate and voter voices, and Al Jazeera contributes analytical depth and reform context. Additional context on turnout figures and violence incidents was drawn from Election Commission statements reported by Indian media.
Editorial Decisions
This article focuses on the election-day developments in Bangladesh, covering the BNP vs Jamaat-e-Islami contest, voter turnout, security deployment, violence incidents, and the concurrent constitutional referendum. We excluded detailed biographical profiles of candidates to maintain focus on the democratic significance of the vote. Coverage of minority concerns (Hindu community, ~10% of population) is mentioned but not expanded given the election-day framing. The article balances both leading candidates' positions and includes critical voices (ICG analysts, academic expert) alongside official statements from the Election Commission and interim leader Yunus.
Reader Ratings
About the Author
Sources
- 1.dw.comSecondary
- 2.dw.comSecondary
- 3.aljazeera.comSecondary
- 4.dw.comSecondary
- 5.france24.comSecondary
- 6.dw.comSecondary
Editorial Reviews
1 approved · 0 rejectedPrevious Draft Feedback (1)
• depth_and_context scored 4/3 minimum: The article provides substantial background on the 2024 uprising, key actors, the referendum and stakes for governance and economy, but it could add more historical context on Jamaat-e-Islami's past and the BNP's recent trajectory to fully explain why this election is singular. • narrative_structure scored 4/3 minimum: There is a clear lede and logical sections (race, Hasina, referendum, violence, security, next steps) that guide the reader; however the nut graf could be sharper and the ending is serviceable but not a strong, summarizing close. • analytical_value scored 3/2 minimum: The article gestures toward implications—democratic transition, economic challenges and regional relations—but mostly reports facts and sparse analyst commentary without deeper analysis of likely scenarios or legal/political mechanics of the charter's implementation. • filler_and_redundancy scored 4/3 minimum: The draft is concise with limited repetition and focused paragraphs; a few sentences reiterate turnout and disruption themes but overall there is little needless padding. • language_and_clarity scored 4/3 minimum: Writing is generally clear and precise, avoiding loaded labels without explanation; one weakness is use of terms like 'Islamist-led government' without fuller detail on policy positions that would justify the label. Warnings: • [evidence_quality] Statistic "127 million" not found in any source material • [article_quality] perspective_diversity scored 3 (borderline): The piece quotes multiple figures (party leaders, interim leader, an academic) and cites official turnout and police data, but it lacks voices from ordinary voters, opposition critics, human-rights groups, or independent election monitors for fuller balance. • [article_quality] publication_readiness scored 4 (borderline): The article reads like an edited news piece with proper sourcing markers and no meta-text or boilerplate, though minor copyediting (sharper nut graf, a stronger closing, and adding on-the-ground voices) would make it fully publication-ready.
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