Bangladesh Elections: The high-octane political campaign is in its final stages and candidates are stepping up their efforts to woo voters as Bangladesh’s national parliamentary elections approach.
Candidates and their supporters go door to door, organize rallies, speak into microphones and in the last part of the campaign decorate the whole country with colorful posters and banners.
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Bangladesh votes on February 12. And the official campaign ends 48 hours before the start of voting, as stated in the election laws. So the campaign ends on February 10 at 7:30 p.m.
First election since Hasina’s ouster
Bangladesh has witnessed widespread political and civil unrest since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. Hasina fled the country in a dramatic move amid student-led protests across the country.
Under interim leader Muhammad Yunus, the country has witnessed widespread protests and political unrest, including violence and destruction of public property.
Strained bilateral relations with India
Since the ousting of the Awami League regime led by Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024 and the violence against minorities, especially the Hindu communityIndia has strained bilateral relations with Bangladesh.
Since the political changes in Dhaka, India has restricted tourist visas for Bangladeshis and also withdrawn the families of Indian diplomats from Bangladesh, citing security concerns ahead of the February 12 elections.
Diplomatic tensions also affected sports ties. Last month, Bangladesh withdrew from Men’s T20 World Cup after the International Cricket Council rejected a request to move their group matches from India to co-hosts Sri Lanka.
Here are the details of the election, key players and expected result time.
Bangladesh Election Key Dates
-The election campaign that started on January 22, 2026 ends today, February 10, 2026.
– Election day is February 12, 2026. Citizens can vote from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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-At the same time, a national referendum on the July National Charter, which includes key constitutional reforms, will also take place.
– Counting of votes will begin on February 12 at 4 p.m.
-The Electoral Commission will officially announce the results on the morning of February 13 once the counting is complete.
Who can vote in Bangladesh elections?
Up to 127 million people are eligible to vote in the February 12 election
Only Bangladeshi citizens who are over 18 years of age on election day can vote, provided their names are on the final voter list compiled by the Election Commission.
Major players in the competition
The main electoral battle is between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by Tariq Rahman and the newly formed alliance of 11 parties, officially known as the “like-minded 11 parties”. The alliance is led by the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Civic Party.
The Awami League, chaired by Sheikh Hasina, is currently suspended and barred from contesting elections.
What is the majority brand in Bangladesh?
The Parliament of Bangladesh, or Jatiya Sangsad, has 350 seats, including 300 directly elected seats and 50 reserved seats for women.
To form a government, a party or coalition needs a simple majority of directly elected seats — at least 151 seats out of 300. The 50 reserved seats for women are allocated after election results based on the party’s share of 300. These do not affect the initial threshold for forming a government.
Members of Parliament serve five-year terms.
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Bangladesh is divided into eight divisions, 64 districts and 495 upazilas (councils). Local governments manage municipal services, education and rural development, although they are largely dependent on central government for funding and authority.
The main electoral battle is between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by Tariq Rahman and the newly formed alliance of 11 parties.
While winning 151 out of 300 seats gives the party a basic working majority, the two-thirds supermajority needed for major constitutional changes without opposition support would be at least 200 seats.
Key things
- The election campaign period runs from January 22 to February 10, 2026.
- 127 million citizens have the right to vote in the upcoming elections.
- The main contest is between Tarique Rahman-led BNP and a new alliance of 11 parties.
