Bangladeshis are voting in a general election today, , nearly eighteen months after a violent uprising ousted the government of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in . The elections are being held alongside a referendum on constitutional and institutional reforms, marking what many see as a pivotal moment for the South Asian nation.
With 127.7 million registered voters, including nearly 5 million first-time voters – representing roughly 44% of the electorate aged between 18 and 37 – participation is expected to be high. The vote follows a period of political turmoil and a ban on the Awami League, Hasina’s party, from contesting the polls.
Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel laureate serving as Chief Adviser of the interim government, has repeatedly pledged a peaceful and dignified transfer of power to the newly elected administration. In a nationally televised address on , Yunus urged citizens to actively participate in both the parliamentary elections and the referendum, describing them as a “defining moment” that could reshape Bangladesh’s political future and democratic framework.
Yunus dismissed claims that the interim government intends to remain in power beyond its mandate, labeling such assertions as “propaganda.” He assured the nation that his administration would relinquish control once democratically elected representatives are in place. “We will hand over the responsibility to the newly elected government with deep pleasure and pride… and return to our own jobs. We ardently await that auspicious moment,” he stated in a broadcast address.
The political landscape has been dramatically altered by the Awami League’s exclusion from the electoral process. Sheikh Hasina, who fled to neighboring India following the August 2024 uprising, has been sentenced to death in absentia by a Bangladeshi court. Despite the ban, Hasina has publicly called on Bangladeshis to boycott the elections, urging them “not to go to vote.”
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, is widely considered a frontrunner in the election. Rahman, the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, returned to Bangladesh in after 17 years in exile in the United Kingdom. The BNP is seeking a return to power after boycotting the 2014 and 2018 elections and rejecting the results of the latter.
The election features a record number of participating parties – 51 in total – with over 2,000 candidates, including independents. This broad-based participation, according to Yunus, reflects a “renewed political awakening and a strong public desire for change.” Other key contenders include Jamaat-e-Islami, led by Shafiqur Rahman, the National Citizen Party, and Islami Andolan Bangladesh.
Shafiqur Rahman of Jamaat-e-Islami has called on “Generation Z” to take a leading role on election day, referencing their pivotal involvement in the 2024 uprising. Reports suggest the uprising, which ended Hasina’s 15-year tenure, may have been a meticulously planned regime change operation, potentially with foreign funding – though this remains unconfirmed.
The Jatiya Sangsad, Bangladesh’s national parliament, comprises 350 seats, with 300 filled through direct elections. The Election Commission has stated that results from both the general election and the referendum will be announced promptly.
The upcoming transfer of power is being closely watched internationally, as Bangladesh navigates a delicate transition following a period of significant political upheaval. The outcome of these elections will undoubtedly shape the country’s trajectory for years to come, determining the future direction of its democracy and the stability of the region.
Yunus issued a firm warning against any attempts to disrupt the electoral process, stating that any move to forcibly take over polling centers, disrupt voting, or provoke unrest would not be tolerated. The emphasis on a peaceful transfer of power underscores the interim government’s commitment to upholding democratic principles and ensuring a smooth transition to a new administration.
