Bangladesh Election 2026: Vote Timeline, Main Parties, Referendum And Key Issues

Bangladesh is voting on February 12, 2026, in its 13th general election, the first national poll since the student-led uprising in July-August 2024 that forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee after 15 years in power. Polling stations across 299 constituencies will open at 7:30 am local time and will close at 4:30 pm, with vote counting starting immediately. Over 127 million eligible voters are participating in this historic exercise, which coincides with a national referendum on constitutional, electoral, and institutional reforms outlined in the July National Charter.

The political map has shifted dramatically in the post-Hasina era. The Awami League, long dominant under Hasina, has been banned under anti-terrorism laws and is not contesting, creating an open field. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman from exile, heads a 10-party coalition and is widely seen as the frontrunner in opinion polls, focusing on anti-corruption, economic recovery, and governance reforms. Challenging it is an 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami, alongside the National Citizen Party (NCP) formed from 2024 uprising leaders, which is expected to post its strongest performance in decades and could influence coalition dynamics.

Security is at its highest level, with more than 157,000 police officers, 100,000 soldiers, and additional forces deployed nationwide to safeguard 42,761 polling centers. International observers, including the European Union Election Observation Mission, are monitoring the process, describing it as a pivotal test of Bangladesh's democratic transition after 18 months of interim rule under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. Yunus has urged citizens to vote freely and pledged a swift handover to the elected government, while emphasizing support for the referendum to institutionalize changes demanded by protesters.

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Key issues driving voters include inflation, unemployment, corruption, economic development, minority rights, and the balance between secular and Islamist influences in politics. The youth demographic, instrumental in the 2024 "Monsoon Revolution," is particularly engaged, seeking job creation, rule of law, and accountability. The outcome will shape Bangladesh's future trajectory, including relations with India—where Hasina remains in exile—and regional stability in South Asia.

Results will indicate whether the BNP secures a strong mandate, a hung parliament leads to coalitions, or the Islamist alliance gains significant ground. This election represents a critical step toward rebuilding trust in democratic institutions following years of disputed polls and authoritarian tendencies. 

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