Bangladesh Elections 2026 LIVE: Voting, expected turnout, party reactions and all updates

As Bangladesh votes, its neighbours are paying attention

Bangladesh and India share a long and complex relationship, rooted in history. India played a decisive role in Bangladesh’s independence in 1971, and the two countries have maintained extensive economic and strategic ties for decades. In normal times, India has been Bangladesh’s largest trading partner in Asia, with deep cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, security, and counter-terrorism. However, occasional border fatalities involving India’s Border Security Force and disputes over the sharing of water from rivers such as the Teesta and Padma have periodically caused friction, contributing to distrust and popular frustration in Bangladesh. Managing such issues requires balancing national sentiments with practical cooperation, and the BNP manifesto’s focus on these topics reflects both domestic pressures and a broader desire to redefine Bangladesh’s approach to its neighbours.

India’s interest in the outcome of the Bangladesh election is understandable, given the size of the border they share and the depth of economic interdependence between the two countries. Delhi has repeatedly emphasised that it wants elections in Bangladesh to be inclusive and participatory, and senior Indian leaders have publicly wished Bangladesh well as the polls approach. At the same time, Indian officials are likely watching the rise of other political actors with varying degrees of scepticism. Read the full story.

What are the major factors likely to shape outcome of Bangladesh polls?

Bangladesh heads to the polls on Thursday, February 12, marking one of the most widely seen and consequential elections in decades. The vote comes 18 months after youth-led protests that overthrew the previous Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, about a year-and-a-half ago. The uprising created an interim administration under the leadership of Nobel laureate Yunus. A constitutional referendum on political reforms will also mark the conclusion of the transition period. Here are seven issues likely to shape the outcome...Click here to read the full story

After Hasina's ouster, Bangladesh faces a crucial test at the ballot

After Sheikh Hasina's ouster, an interim government led by Muhammad Yunus took charge. Many hoped for cleaner politics and a stronger democracy. Now, over 12.77 crore voters will decide the future. Polling will be held in 299 of 300 seats. One seat was postponed after a candidate's death. Voters will also take part in a referendum on the July National Charter, a document that proposes major constitutional changes, ANI reported. Read the full story.

Inside Bangladesh’s new election 2026 battlefield: The rise of the digital mob

In Bangladesh, a disturbing pattern has emerged in recent months. Posts expressing concern about political violence or threats are often met not with sympathy, but with mass mockery. On Facebook, the “haha” reaction has become a political weapon. When a post is flooded with laughing reactions, it sends a message that the speaker is ridiculous, isolated, or deserving of scorn. This form of public ridicule discourages others from speaking and creates fear without the need for direct threats. Research on online harassment shows that mockery is especially effective at silencing voices because it combines humiliation with social pressure. The impact of this mockery goes beyond emotion. Social media platforms rely on algorithms that decide which posts are shown and which are buried. Coordinated hostile reactions can reduce a post’s visibility, making it harder for information to spread. This means organised ridicule not only attacks a person’s dignity, but can also erase their voice from public discussion. Read the full story.

Nahid, Tasnim, Sarjis: Where are the Gen-Z protest leaders as Bangladesh votes tomorrow?

Once, they led protests on the streets. Now, many of them are in the election fray. Several of these former student leaders are now linked to the National Citizen Party (NCP). Nahid Islam, one of the main faces of the protests, is now the NCP chief. He briefly served in the interim government under Muhammad Yunus and is contesting from Dhaka-11. Sarjis Alam, once a Dhaka University student activist, is now the party's chief organiser for the northern region. Nasiruddin Patwary, the party's chief coordinator. Read the full story.

Key parties and shifting alliances

The centre-right BNP leads a 10-party alliance, and its leader, Tarique Rahman, returned recently to Bangladesh after almost 17 years of exile in December. Founded by former President Ziaur Rahman in 1978, BNP has always shared power with the ruling AL. The opposition of BNP is JIB, also known as Jamaat-e-Islami, currently positioned on top of the 11-party alliance. Although Jamaat used to be a partner of BNP politically, it is running alone this time after gaining back its registered status courtesy of a Supreme Court decision in 2025. The opposition alliance comprises the newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP), formed by student activists who took to the streets in 2024. There are other parties and groups, like Islami Andolan Bangladesh and the Jatiya Party, that are independently contesting the elections. A poll conducted by the International Republican Institute in December 2025 reported BNP at 33 per cent, with its closest rival, Jamaat, at 29 per cent.

When and how will Bangladesh voting take place?

Polling stations will open at 7:30 am and close at 4:30 pm in 42,761 polling stations across 64 districts, as per the Election Commission of Bangladesh (ECB). Over 127 million registered voters will be able to cast their ballots in 300 parliamentary constituencies Bangladesh follows a unicameral system of Parliament, meaning that it has a single lawmaking body, which is the Jatiyo Shangsad, or House of the Nation, comprising 350 constituencies, each represented by one member. Following a first-past-the-post (FPTP) electoral system for 300 directly elected seats in the Jatiyo Shangsad, the remaining 50 seats are allocated to women in proportion to the number of seats won by parties. A party must win 151 seats to form a government on its own.

Bangladesh Elections 2026: First vote after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, what’s at stake?

The election is taking place after months of turmoil. During the time of the 2024 protest over employment quotas, the current condition led to the ouster of Hasina from power. Since then, the current interim period has been led by the Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. In November, Hasina was convicted in absentia for crimes against humanity by the tribunal in Dhaka, receiving a death sentence. However, India has not extradited her. According to a report by Al Jazeera, analysts note the vote will gauge if the momentum of the protest movement continues from last year’s uprisings, particularly among the youth and among first-time voters who were integral to the protests.

Bangladesh’s horror coup of 1975: The massacre of Sheikh Hasina’s family that changed the nation forever

One of the darkest moments in Bangladesh’s history came on August 15, 1975, when the country’s founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, father of Sheikh Hasina, was assassinated in a military coup. The incident changed the nation’s political course forever. Read the full story.

Bangladesh ramps up security ahead of polls

Bangladesh’s police chief has voiced concerns over potential security threats. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Baharul Alam told reporters on Tuesday that the possibility of militant attacks surrounding the election cannot be completely ruled out. He said a three-tier security arrangement has been put in place to ensure safety during polling. A total of 1,87,603 police personnel have been deployed across the country. According to police estimates, about 24,000 of the nearly 43,000 polling centres are classified as "high" or "moderate" risk. In Dhaka, 1,614 out of 2,131 centres have been marked as sensitive. Read the full story.

Interin leader Muhammad Yunus's message

In a televised and radio address to the nation on Tuesday evening, interim leader Professor Muhammad Yunus spoke about the upcoming vote scheduled for Thursday. With five consecutive days of holiday announced around the polling date, lakhs of people are leaving cities and returning to their villages to cast their votes. Bus and launch terminals are witnessing Eid-like crowds, and trains are packed with passengers. However, the atmosphere appears far from festive.

Survey shows tight race between BNP alliance and Jamaat-led bloc

A survey conducted by Bangladesh’s International Institute of Law and Diplomacy (IILD) indicates a closely contested race in the upcoming elections. The alliance led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is projected to secure 44.1 per cent of the vote. Trailing marginally is the 11-party alliance headed by Jamaat-e-Islami, which is expected to receive 43.9 per cent, according to a report by Prothom Alo. Read full story