Bangladesh to hold historic election following Hasinas removal from power

Bangladesh to Hold First National Elections Since 2024 Uprising on February 12

Campaigning has begun in Bangladesh ahead of the country’s first national elections since the 2024 uprising that ousted longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, has pledged to hold a free and fair election.

On Thursday, major political parties held campaign rallies in Dhaka, the capital city, ahead of the vote scheduled for February 12. The elections will see the country elect 350 lawmakers and decide on proposed political reforms. European Union election observers have described the vote as the “biggest democratic process” of 2026.

Yunus, who returned to Bangladesh in August 2024 after being exiled, has championed a reform charter that includes giving the presidency more authority and proposing term limits for legislators. The charter was signed by 25 of the country’s 52 registered political parties last year but requires a referendum to be legally binding.

The Awami League party, formerly led by Hasina, has been barred from running in the election after the country’s Election Commission suspended its registration in May. Tarique Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is widely seen as a leading contender for prime minister and launched his campaign in the northeastern city of Sylhet on Thursday.

A 10-party alliance led by the Jamaat-e-Islami party is also seeking to expand its influence. The country’s Election Commission has warned about the potential impact of disinformation on the election, with Yunus expressing concern over the spread of fake news and rumors on social media.

The elections will take place on February 12, and the outcome will be closely watched by the international community.

Source: Al Jazeera