The Chattogram administration has completed extensive preparations for a festive parliamentary election scheduled for Thursday, marking the first competitive vote in 17 years. Election materials have been delivered to all 1,965 polling centers across 16 constituencies, with law enforcement maintaining a strong presence in streets and neighborhoods. Candidates are finalizing their campaigns, using social media for communication due to restrictions on public rallies. Voters are showing enthusiasm, with large crowds traveling from the city to their home areas to cast ballots.

According to election officials, 1,965 presiding officers, 12,595 assistant presiding officers, and 29,165 polling officers will serve during the vote. Security forces, including police, RAB, BGB, Ansar, Navy, and Coast Guard, will be deployed, with police using body-worn cameras. BNP leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury described the administration’s role as satisfactory but urged vigilance to maintain public trust. Jamaat-e-Islami’s Shahjahan Chowdhury said their coalition has reached voters with development plans and expects strong support.

Returning Officer Dr. Mohammad Zia Uddin stated that preparations began in August 2024 and assured voters of a peaceful and fair election, emphasizing strict measures against any disruption.

Bangladesh’s national parliamentary election and referendum are being held on Thursday, with voting scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The atmosphere has been described as festive, drawing attention from both general voters and political observers eager to see where top party leaders will cast their ballots. According to party sources, BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman will vote at Gulshan Model High School and College, while Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman will vote at Manipur Boys High School in the capital. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will vote in Thakurgaon, and Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar in Khulna.

Other leaders from the NCP, Islami Andolon, and the 11-party alliance will also vote in their respective constituencies, including Dhaka, Rangpur, Barishal, and Habiganj. Senior BNP and Jamaat leaders have announced their polling centers across the country, from Comilla to Cox’s Bazar. The report notes that voter enthusiasm had declined in previous years but appears revived this time amid a nationwide election-day atmosphere.

The day’s voting is expected to proceed through the afternoon, with major political figures participating in person at their designated polling centers.

Bangladesh began voting in its long-awaited 13th National Parliament election and a constitutional referendum on February 12, 2026. Polling runs from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. across 42,958 centers in 299 constituencies, with the Sherpur-3 seat postponed due to a candidate’s death. The Election Commission has deployed one hundred thousand soldiers and nine hundred thousand security personnel to ensure a peaceful process. The vote marks the first competitive election in 15 years, following the fall of the previous authoritarian regime in mid-2024 and the formation of an interim government led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

The election is being held alongside a referendum on the “July Charter,” a proposed constitutional reform. Fifty-one of fifty-nine registered political parties, including BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, are participating, while the Awami League is banned. The interim government and the Election Commission have pledged a free and fair vote. Analysts describe the event as a historic test of Bangladesh’s democratic transition after two decades of political repression.

Observers note that the success of this election will depend on its neutrality and the stability of the post-election government.

As Bangladesh prepares for its first free and fair election in 17 years, women’s rights activists are voicing alarm over the growing influence of Jamaat e-Islami, an Islamist party once banned under Sheikh Hasina’s rule. The election, scheduled for Thursday following Hasina’s ouster in a deadly student-led uprising in August 2024, has been hailed as a democratic milestone. Yet many women who led the revolution now fear that the resurgence of conservative Islamist politics could erode hard-won freedoms and representation.

Jamaat e-Islami, previously persecuted and outlawed, has re-emerged as a major contender alongside the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Despite campaigning on reform and anti-corruption, the party has fielded no female candidates, and its leader’s remarks rejecting female leadership and denying marital rape have drawn sharp criticism. The National Citizen Party, formed by student leaders of the uprising, deepened frustration by joining Jamaat’s alliance while nominating only two women.

Analysts say Jamaat’s popularity among young, first-time voters reflects disillusionment with the old political elite. However, women’s groups warn that the party’s proposed policies—such as cutting women’s working hours—could reverse decades of progress toward gender equality.

Tarique Rahman, returning to Bangladesh after 17 years in exile, has pledged to end entrenched corruption and lead the country on a new path as voting began in the first free and fair elections in nearly two decades. Speaking before polls opened on Thursday, the 60-year-old Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader promised a “top down, no tolerance” approach to graft if his party wins power. Polls suggest the BNP is poised for a sizeable majority over the Islamist Jamaat e-Islami, potentially returning the party to government after 20 years.

The election follows the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in a student-led uprising in mid-2024 that left about 1,400 people dead, according to the UN. Since August 2024, an interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has overseen preparations for the vote. More than 900,000 security personnel were deployed to ensure calm as 127 million registered voters cast ballots in what analysts called the country’s first credible election in 17 years.

Analysts noted that a fair, peaceful election could mark a turning point for Bangladesh’s democracy, though the resurgence of Islamist parties poses challenges for secular governance and stability.

Bangladesh is holding its 13th parliamentary election and a national referendum on Thursday, marking the first time in the country’s history that both votes are being conducted on the same day. The Election Commission has completed all preparations, with ballot papers and materials distributed to 42,779 polling centers across 299 constituencies. A total of 2,028 candidates from 50 political parties and independents are contesting, while over 127 million citizens are eligible to vote. Voting runs from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with separate ballots for parliamentary and referendum votes.

The election follows the July Revolution and the fall of the previous government in 2024, leading to an interim administration under Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The Chief Election Commissioner urged voters to exercise their rights without fear, while Dr. Yunus called for unity and peaceful participation. Although the atmosphere is expected to be festive, intelligence reports warn of possible violence in some areas. Law enforcement deployment exceeds 900,000 personnel, and nearly 45,000 domestic and foreign observers are monitoring the polls.

Postal ballots have been introduced for the first time, allowing expatriates, officials, and prisoners to vote remotely. Results will be counted immediately after polls close and announced by presiding officers at each center.

Voters in Bangladesh will go to the polls on February 12 for the country’s first parliamentary elections since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted following a deadly crackdown on student-led protests in 2024. The Election Commission of Bangladesh said voting will take place across 42,761 polling centres in 64 districts for 300 parliamentary constituencies. More than 127 million registered voters, including 15 million overseas workers voting by post for the first time, are eligible to participate. A referendum on the July National Charter 2025, outlining constitutional and legal reforms, will be held alongside the election.

The election marks a major political turning point after Hasina’s Awami League was banned from politics. The centre-right Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, heads a 10-party coalition, while the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami (JIB) leads an 11-party alliance that includes the National Citizen Party formed by 2024 protest leaders. Analysts say the vote will test the strength of Islamist parties, the influence of young voters, and the future of the Awami League’s political exclusion.

Experts describe the election as one of the most consequential in Bangladesh’s history, with its outcome expected to shape the nation’s political direction and foreign relations for years to come.

Bangladesh has intensified security measures ahead of its 13th general election, the first since the 2024 uprising that ended Sheikh Hasina’s rule and sent her into exile. More than 157,000 police officers, 100,000 soldiers, and thousands of other personnel have been deployed nationwide to secure Thursday’s vote, in which nearly 127 million citizens are eligible to participate. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, is leading the race, facing an 11-party coalition headed by Jamaat-e-Islami and joined by the newly formed National Citizen Party. A referendum on political reforms, including term limits and checks on executive power, will also be held alongside the election.

Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Muhammad Sanaullah said cameras have been installed in over 90 percent of constituencies, while police chief Baharul Alam reported that more than half of the 42,000 polling stations are considered vulnerable to violence. Rights groups have documented extensive political clashes since 2024, and Transparency International Bangladesh has warned of law-and-order risks. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus has declared a three-day public holiday and urged citizens to vote, calling the election a chance to restore democracy after years of restricted political space.

Public enthusiasm is high, with many first-time voters returning to their home districts despite transport shortages. The Yunus-led administration has pledged a fair and peaceful vote, viewing the election as a turning point for Bangladesh’s democratic future.

Nahid Islam, a 27-year-old former student leader who helped lead Bangladesh’s 2024 youth uprising, is contesting the February 12 election as head of the National Citizen Party (NCP). The NCP emerged from the anti-Hasina protests that toppled the previous government and now seeks to position itself as a centrist alternative to the country’s entrenched political dynasties. However, its decision to join an 11-party alliance dominated by Jamaat-e-Islami has divided supporters and raised questions about whether the movement’s reformist spirit can survive electoral compromise.

The alliance grants Jamaat 222 of 300 constituencies, while the NCP fields 30 candidates, including Islam in Dhaka-11. Islam defends the partnership as a pragmatic electoral arrangement to overcome the NCP’s organizational weakness, arguing it broadens the coalition beyond Islamist politics. Critics, including academics and activists, counter that the deal risks co-opting the NCP and lending Jamaat undue legitimacy, especially given its controversial stance on women’s and minority rights. Surveys suggest a close race between the BNP and the Jamaat-led bloc, with the NCP holding a small but potentially decisive share of votes.

Analysts say the NCP’s future hinges on whether it can maintain independence after the election or become absorbed by its larger ally.

Bangladesh is holding its first national election since the 2024 uprising that led to the removal of former leader Sheikh Hasina. The vote marks a significant political moment for the country as citizens return to the polls following the upheaval that reshaped its leadership.

The election follows a period of political transition triggered by the 2024 uprising, which ended Hasina’s rule. It represents an important test of stability and governance in the post-uprising era, as Bangladesh seeks to establish a new political direction after the leadership change.

The outcome of this election is expected to determine the country’s next phase of governance and could influence how Bangladesh rebuilds its institutions after the 2024 political turmoil.

Nahid Islam, a 27-year-old former student leader who rose to prominence during Bangladesh’s 2024 anti-quota protests, is contesting the February 12 national election as head of the National Citizen Party (NCP). The NCP emerged from the youth-led uprising that toppled Sheikh Hasina’s government and briefly saw Islam serve as an adviser in Muhammad Yunus’s interim cabinet. The party, positioning itself as a centrist alternative, now faces scrutiny for joining an alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami, a group still controversial for its stance during the 1971 war.

The alliance has caused internal divisions within the NCP, with several liberal and female leaders resigning, accusing the party of abandoning its founding ideals. Islam defends the partnership as a pragmatic electoral move, citing shared goals of reform and anti-corruption. Under the deal, NCP will contest 30 of 300 seats, while Jamaat fields 222. Polls suggest a tight race between the BNP and the Jamaat-led bloc, with smaller parties like NCP potentially playing a decisive role.

Analysts note that the election will test whether the NCP’s revolutionary appeal can survive electoral realities and whether its alliance strengthens or undermines its identity.

A local BNP leader named Jasim Uddin, 45, was seriously injured in an alleged attack in Channandi Union of Hatiya upazila, Noakhali, on Wednesday night. According to the victim, supporters of Abdul Hannan Masud, the candidate of the 11-party alliance, carried out the assault at Shiuli Ekram Bazar. Police said Jasim, a former organizational secretary of ward no. 3 BNP, was rescued by naval patrol members and sent to the district hospital for treatment.

BNP sources claimed that the attack was led by NCP leader Didar Hossain and his associates, who used sharp weapons. Hatiya BNP’s election chief, Sif Mohammad Alauddin, accused Masud’s supporters of trying to disrupt the election environment and intimidate voters ahead of the upcoming national polls. He alleged that such violence was an attempt to halt the growing support for the BNP symbol.

Police and naval forces visited the scene, and the situation was later reported as stable. The Hatiya police officer-in-charge stated that legal action would follow after investigation.

The Bangladesh Coast Guard detained a local BNP volunteer leader in Patuakhali’s Kalapara upazila on Wednesday night, February 11, with Tk 5 million in cash. The arrest took place near Khepupara Girls’ Secondary School around 10 p.m. The detainee, Md Kajol Mridha, is the joint convener of the Kalapara municipal unit of the BNP’s volunteer wing and a member of the election management committee for the BNP candidate in Patuakhali-4 constituency, ABM Mosharraf Hossain.

According to Coast Guard sources, the recovered money was allegedly being distributed to influence voters. Legal procedures are underway following the seizure. Officials present at the scene included the assistant commissioner (land) Yasin Sadiq, a senior judicial magistrate’s representative, NSI personnel, the officer-in-charge of Kalapara police station, and members of the Detective Branch. Attempts to contact the BNP candidate by phone were unsuccessful as his number was found switched off.

Kalapara Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kawsar Hamid stated that the operation was conducted based on a tip-off, and the cash was recovered in the presence of Executive Magistrate Md Mahidul Hasan.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has accused Jamaat-e-Islami of engaging in widespread violence, vote center occupation, vote rigging, and illegal money distribution ahead of the national election. At a press conference held Wednesday night at the BNP Election Steering Committee office in Gulshan, BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan described these actions as deeply disappointing and urged party members and citizens to guard polling centers and ensure fair voting.

Nazrul Islam Khan presented multiple incidents from across the country, including arrests of Jamaat leaders with large sums of money, allegations of bribing voters, attempts to seize polling stations, and acts of intimidation and violence. He emphasized BNP’s demand for a free, fair, and neutral election and reaffirmed the party’s commitment to restoring democratic rights and implementing its declared political pledges.

BNP spokesperson Mahdi Amin added that despite reports of misconduct, public enthusiasm for voting remains high, expressing confidence in BNP’s victory and calling for continued vigilance against electoral irregularities.

On the eve of Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Election, the administration in Chattogram-4 (Sitakunda) constituency has completed all preparations for voting. Ballot boxes and papers have been delivered to 124 polling centers under the security of joint forces comprising the army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), and police. Patrols have been intensified to ensure a free, fair, and peaceful election, supported by multi-layered security and technology-based monitoring.

Each polling center has been equipped with CCTV cameras connected to a live monitoring system at the Sitakunda Upazila Parishad building, where a 100-inch screen displays real-time footage from 64 cameras. The Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Assistant Returning Officer Fakhrul Islam will oversee the monitoring, supported by two judicial magistrates and five executive magistrates to maintain law and order. A special stage has been set up at the Upazila auditorium for rapid result collection and announcement.

Joint forces remain on high alert around polling centers to ensure voters can cast their ballots safely. The administration reports that all logistical, technical, and security arrangements are finalized, awaiting voter participation to determine the constituency’s next representative.