For the first time in three decades, the iconic ‘boat’ symbol of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League has not appeared on the ballot paper in Bangladesh’s general election, marking a significant political turning point. Voting is underway across the country in what is the first parliamentary election since Hasina was removed from office following mass protests in August 2024. The absence of the symbol underscores the dramatic transformation in Bangladesh’s political landscape.

The interim government had banned all activities of the Awami League on May 12 last year, citing ongoing legal proceedings. Soon after, the Election Commission suspended the party’s registration, effectively preventing it from participating in the polls. The government has maintained that the ban will remain until trials at the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal (BD-ICT) are concluded.

This is not the first time the Awami League has been absent from elections. The party boycotted parliamentary polls in 1988 and 1996 during periods of political unrest. However, this marks the first occasion in 30 years that it has been unable to contest due to legal and administrative restrictions rather than a voluntary boycott. In total, the ‘boat’ symbol has been missing in three of Bangladesh’s 13 parliamentary elections.

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Bangladesh’s political upheaval began with weeks of student-led protests against a controversial job quota system, which evolved into a nationwide movement against Hasina’s 16-year rule. The 77-year-old leader left for India on August 5, 2024, months after securing a fourth consecutive term. Subsequently, the BD-ICT sentenced her to death in absentia on charges related to alleged crimes against humanity during the suppression of what became known as the “July Uprising.”

A total of 2,009 candidates are contesting across 299 of the country’s 300 constituencies in the 13th parliamentary election. Of 63 parties registered since the introduction of the registration system in 2008, 51 are participating in the current polls. With the Awami League—one of the nation’s oldest and most dominant political forces—barred from contesting, the election represents a watershed moment that could reshape Bangladesh’s political trajectory for years to come.

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