What Happened
- Bangladesh held its first general election on February 12, 2026, since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the July 2024 mass uprising, with voting across 300 parliamentary constituencies and 42,761 polling centres in 64 districts.
- The election is a bipolar contest between two former allies now competing separately: the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leading a 10-party coalition, and the Jamaat-e-Islami leading an 11-party alliance that includes the National Citizen Party (NCP), a youth-led party born from the 2024 student protests.
- A simultaneous constitutional referendum was held on the July National Charter, which proposes sweeping reforms including prime ministerial term limits, a bicameral parliament, expanded fundamental rights, and enhanced presidential powers.
- The Awami League, which had governed since 2009, is barred from contesting; its leader Sheikh Hasina remains in exile in India since August 5, 2024.
- Approximately 127 million registered voters participated, with polling conducted during a four-day national holiday under heavy security arrangements.
Static Topic Bridges
Bangladesh's Parliamentary System — The Jatiya Sangsad
The Jatiya Sangsad (House of the Nation) is the unicameral legislature of Bangladesh, established under the Constitution of Bangladesh adopted in 1972. It comprises 300 directly elected members from single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system, plus 50 seats reserved for women allocated proportionally among elected parties. The maximum constitutional strength is 350 members. Elections are held every five years unless Parliament is dissolved earlier by the President.
- Bangladesh follows the Westminster parliamentary model, with the Prime Minister as head of government and the President as ceremonial head of state
- 300 constituencies use FPTP voting; 50 reserved women's seats are filled by proportional representation through single transferable vote by the 300 elected members
- The Constitution of Bangladesh was adopted on November 4, 1972, and came into effect on December 16, 1972 (Victory Day)
- Bangladesh has had 12 previous general elections; the last was in January 2024, which was boycotted by the BNP and widely criticised
Connection to this news: The 2026 election is being held under the oversight of the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus after the dissolution of the previous parliament on August 6, 2024, following Hasina's ouster. It represents Bangladesh's attempt to restore democratic governance after a period of authoritarian consolidation.
The July 2024 Mass Uprising and Interim Government
The July Revolution (also called the Monsoon Revolution or Gen Z Revolution) was a student-led mass uprising in Bangladesh that began in June 2024 as a quota reform movement against the reinstatement of a 30% quota for descendants of 1971 freedom fighters in government jobs. It escalated into a full-fledged anti-government uprising after security forces killed over 1,000 protesters. On August 5, 2024, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and fled to India. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus was sworn in as Chief Adviser of the interim government on August 8, 2024.
- The movement was led by "Students Against Discrimination," a coalition of university students
- Over 1,000 people were killed during the protests, the deadliest period in Bangladesh since the 1971 Liberation War
- The interim government was tasked with conducting free and fair elections and implementing governance reforms
- The July National Charter, signed on October 17, 2025, by 25 political parties and the interim government, outlines 30 reform proposals being put to referendum
Connection to this news: The February 2026 election is the direct outcome of the July Revolution. The simultaneous referendum on the July Charter seeks to constitutionalise the uprising's reform demands, including PM term limits and a new upper house of parliament. If approved, the newly elected parliament will function as a constituent assembly for 180 working days to enact these constitutional changes.
India-Bangladesh Relations — Strategic Significance
India and Bangladesh share a 4,096 km border (the world's fifth-longest land boundary), with Bangladesh bordering five Indian states including the strategically important northeastern region. India was the first country to recognise Bangladesh's independence in 1971 and played a decisive military role in the Liberation War. Bilateral relations are anchored in nearly 70 institutional mechanisms covering trade, security, energy, connectivity, and water sharing.
- Bilateral trade reached approximately US$ 13.51 billion in FY25; India is Bangladesh's second-largest trade partner
- India exports 1,160 MW of electricity to Bangladesh; a trilateral India-Nepal-Bangladesh power transaction began in November 2024
- Three cross-border railway services operate: Maitri Express (Kolkata-Dhaka, since 2008), Bandhan Express (Kolkata-Khulna, since 2017), and Mitali Express (New Jalpaiguri-Dhaka, since 2022)
- Bangladesh is central to India's "Neighbourhood First" and "Act East" policies as a land bridge connecting mainland India to its northeastern states and onward to Southeast Asia
- India has expressed concern about violence against Hindu minorities in Bangladesh; the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council documented over 2,000 incidents of communal violence since August 2024
Connection to this news: The election outcome will significantly shape India-Bangladesh relations. The Awami League, traditionally viewed as pro-India, is barred from contesting. Both the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami have historically adopted more cautious or critical stances toward India. The safety of Bangladesh's Hindu minority (approximately 8% of the population) during and after elections remains a key concern for New Delhi.
Role of Islamist Parties in South Asian Democracies
Jamaat-e-Islami was founded in 1941 by Abul Ala Maududi in undivided India. The Bangladesh chapter opposed the country's independence from Pakistan in 1971, and senior Jamaat figures were involved in paramilitary groups that committed atrocities during the Liberation War. The party was banned after independence but reinstated in 1979 under a BNP government. It had been a longstanding ally of the BNP until their formal split in August 2025.
- Jamaat-e-Islami was banned by the Bangladesh Supreme Court in August 2013 for its role during the 1971 war, but re-registered as a political party after the 2024 uprising
- The International Crimes Tribunal of Bangladesh convicted several Jamaat leaders for war crimes committed in 1971
- In the 2026 election, Jamaat leads an 11-party alliance, contesting separately from its former ally BNP for the first time
- Opinion polls show an extremely close contest: BNP alliance at 44.1% vs Jamaat alliance at 43.9%
- The NCP (National Citizen Party), led by student protest leaders from the 2024 uprising, is allied with Jamaat
Connection to this news: The mainstreaming of Jamaat-e-Islami as a leading electoral force — potentially capable of forming government — marks a significant political realignment in Bangladesh. For India, a Jamaat-led or Jamaat-influenced government could alter the bilateral dynamic, particularly on issues of minority rights, border management, and counterterrorism cooperation.
Key Facts & Data
- Election date: February 12, 2026 (polling: 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM)
- Seats contested: 300 parliamentary constituencies (FPTP)
- Registered voters: approximately 127 million
- Polling centres: 42,761 across 64 districts
- Two ballots: white (parliamentary election) and pink (constitutional referendum)
- Key coalitions: BNP-led (10 parties) vs Jamaat-led (11 parties)
- Sheikh Hasina ousted: August 5, 2024; Muhammad Yunus sworn in: August 8, 2024
- India-Bangladesh border: 4,096 km (fifth-longest land boundary globally)
- Hindu minority in Bangladesh: approximately 8% of population
- July National Charter signed: October 17, 2025, by 25 political parties