By Blessing Nweke
Polls opened across Bangladesh on Thursday in a parliamentary election widely viewed as a defining moment for the nation’s democracy following years of political upheaval. More than 127 million eligible voters began casting ballots at tens of thousands of polling stations under tight security, with voting set to conclude Thursday and results expected Friday.
The election marks the first national vote since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government collapsed in 2024 after weeks of mass protests led largely by Gen Z activists. Hasina fled the country and is now living in exile in India. Her party has been banned from participating in the polls.
Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has emerged as a leading contender to form the next government. The son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Rahman returned in December after 17 years in self-exile in London. He has pledged to rebuild democratic institutions, strengthen the rule of law and revive the struggling economy.
Challenging the BNP is an 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s largest Islamist party. Previously banned under Hasina, the group has gained momentum since her removal, raising concerns among women and minority communities about potential curbs on social freedoms. Bangladesh’s population is more than 90% Muslim, with Hindus making up about 8%.
The vote is being overseen by an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, who has promised a transparent process. Around 500 international observers are monitoring proceedings.
Voters are also weighing proposed reforms, including term limits for the prime minister and stronger checks on executive power.
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