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Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: Voting commenced on Thursday, February 12, for Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary elections, marking a significant juncture in the nation’s political landscape.
The polls are taking place around 18 months after the end of Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year tenure, which concluded following student-led protests in July 2024 and the installation of an interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus.
This election is notable for being the first in decades without the participation of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League Party, which has been disbanded and barred from contesting. The absence of the long-dominant party has reshaped the political contest and heightened attention on the outcome.
The main competition is now between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, its former ally that is currently leading an 11-party alliance. BNP's leader Tarique Rahman is seeking to re-establish his political presence after spending several years in exile.
Nearly 127 million registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots across 299 constituencies. Alongside the parliamentary vote, authorities are also conducting a referendum on an 84-point reform charter, adding another layer of significance to the polling exercise.
Security arrangements have been strengthened nationwide. More than half of the polling stations have been categorised as sensitive or risk-prone, as per News18. Authorities are using a combination of drones, body-worn cameras and closed-circuit television networks to monitor voting and maintain order.
Tune in to the minute by minute updates of the Bangladesh General Elections 2026 here:
The polls are taking place around 18 months after the end of Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year tenure, which concluded following student-led protests in July 2024 and the installation of an interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus.
This election is notable for being the first in decades without the participation of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League Party, which has been disbanded and barred from contesting. The absence of the long-dominant party has reshaped the political contest and heightened attention on the outcome.
The main competition is now between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, its former ally that is currently leading an 11-party alliance. BNP's leader Tarique Rahman is seeking to re-establish his political presence after spending several years in exile.
Nearly 127 million registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots across 299 constituencies. Alongside the parliamentary vote, authorities are also conducting a referendum on an 84-point reform charter, adding another layer of significance to the polling exercise.
Security arrangements have been strengthened nationwide. More than half of the polling stations have been categorised as sensitive or risk-prone, as per News18. Authorities are using a combination of drones, body-worn cameras and closed-circuit television networks to monitor voting and maintain order.
Tune in to the minute by minute updates of the Bangladesh General Elections 2026 here:
