Bangladesh’s much-anticipated 13th National Parliamentary Election and a concurrent national referendum concluded peacefully on Thursday, February 12, 2026, with vote counting now underway. Polling took place from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. across 42,958 centers in 299 constituencies, while voting in Sherpur-3 was postponed due to a candidate’s death. The election marks the country’s first major participatory vote in 15 years, with citizens choosing their leaders for the next five years and deciding on constitutional reforms through the referendum.

A total of 51 out of 59 registered political parties participated, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami as the main contenders. The Awami League was barred from contesting. The Election Commission deployed 100,000 military personnel and 900,000 law enforcement officers to ensure order. Voter enthusiasm was high, with nearly 40 million young voters casting ballots, many for the first time. Digital campaigning through Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok defined this election’s outreach.

The simultaneous referendum on the “July Charter” constitutional reform was conducted using separate pink ballots. The results are expected to shape Bangladesh’s democratic transition and governance structure in the coming years.