Vote counting is underway in Bangladesh after a historic national election, marking a pivotal moment for the country just 18 months after a student-led uprising ended Sheikh Hasina’s two-decade rule. This election, held on February 12, 2026, has drawn global attention—not just for its scale, with 127 million eligible voters, but for the dramatic shifts in Bangladesh’s political landscape since the tumultuous events of 2024.
The contest is primarily between two major alliances: the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, and the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), headed by Shafiqur Rahman. According to Reuters, both leaders expressed confidence in their prospects, with Tarique Rahman telling reporters, “I am confident of winning the election. There is enthusiasm among the people about the vote,” while Shafiqur Rahman called the election a “turning point” for Bangladesh and said people were eager for change.
This year’s election is unique in several ways. For the first time, postal voting was made available, allowing roughly 15 million overseas Bangladeshi workers—a group whose remittances are vital to the national economy—to participate in the democratic process. The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) reported a record 127,711,793 registered voters, including 64,825,361 men, 62,885,200 women, and 1,232 third-gender voters, all aged 18 or older. Voting took place across 42,761 polling centers in all 64 districts, with ballots cast for 300 parliamentary constituencies.
The mood at the polling stations was described as festive and hopeful. Many voters, especially younger ones, relished the opportunity to cast their ballots freely for the first time in years. Mohammed Jobair Hossain, 39, captured the national sentiment when he said, “I am feeling excited because we are voting in a free manner after 17 years. Our votes will matter and have meaning.” Another voter, Kamal Chowdhury, 31, likened the atmosphere to Eid, saying, “People are so enthusiastic to cast their vote—it’s almost like Eid.”
Security was tight, with nearly a million police, army, and paramilitary personnel deployed nationwide. While most of the day passed peacefully, there were isolated incidents: a BNP leader died in a scuffle outside a polling booth in Khulna, and two paramilitary personnel along with a 13-year-old girl were injured by a homemade bomb outside a booth in Gopalganj, Hasina’s former stronghold.
Counting began at 4:30 p.m. local time, immediately after polls closed. Early trends were expected around midnight, with final results likely to be clear by Friday morning, according to Election Commission officials. The commission also noted that the process might take longer than usual due to the dual task of counting both parliamentary ballots and the pink ballots for a concurrent referendum on the July National Charter.
This referendum proposes sweeping constitutional reforms: establishing a neutral interim government for future elections, restructuring parliament into a bicameral legislature, increasing women’s representation, strengthening judicial independence, and imposing a two-term limit on the office of the prime minister. The breadth of these changes underscores the appetite for institutional reform in the wake of the 2024 uprising, which was driven largely by Gen Z activists.
The 2026 election is being called a “festival” and “a day of liberation” by Muhammad Yunus, head of the interim government who took over after Hasina’s ouster. “From today, we have the opportunity to build a new Bangladesh with every step we take. This is a festival, a day of joy, a day of liberation, the end of our nightmare. I congratulate you all,” Yunus said after casting his vote, as reported by Reuters.
This is the first national election since Hasina’s Awami League was banned by the Election Commission last year, preventing it from fielding any candidates. Hasina herself remains in self-imposed exile in India, a move that has not only altered the domestic political balance but also signaled shifting regional alliances. Analysts note that as Dhaka’s relationship with New Delhi cools, China may see an opening to expand its influence in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh’s political history over the last two decades has been dominated by the rivalry between the BNP and the Awami League. The BNP, founded in 1978 by Ziaur Rahman, has alternated between government and opposition with the Awami League since independence. After Ziaur Rahman’s assassination, his wife, Khaleda Zia, led the party and served twice as prime minister. The BNP suffered heavy repression after 2009, when Hasina returned to power, and Khaleda was placed under house arrest on corruption charges before being acquitted and released following Hasina’s ouster in 2024. Tarique Rahman, Khaleda’s son, only recently returned to Bangladesh after 17 years in exile, marking a new chapter for the party.
Jamaat-e-Islami, founded in 1941, leads an 11-party alliance that includes the National Citizen Party (NCP), a centrist group formed by student leaders of the 2024 uprising. Jamaat’s own history is complex: it opposed Bangladesh’s independence in 1971 and was banned after liberation, only to be allowed back by the BNP government in 1979. Over the years, it has been both a kingmaker and a target, especially during periods of Awami League dominance.
The 2026 election has also set records for participation. With 51 parties contesting (out of 59 registered), and 1,981 candidates—including 249 independents—vying for 300 seats in the Jatiyo Sangsad (House of the Nation), the ballot was the most crowded in Bangladesh’s history. One constituency’s vote was postponed due to the death of a candidate, but the overall turnout was robust. By 2 p.m. on election day, nearly half the electorate had already voted at 36,031 polling centers, surpassing the entire turnout of 42% in the 2024 election.
International observers and analysts are now watching closely. Thomas Kean, a senior consultant with the International Crisis Group, put it succinctly: “The crucial test for Bangladesh now will be to ensure the election is conducted fairly and impartially, and for all parties to then accept the result. If that happens, it will be the strongest evidence yet that Bangladesh has indeed embarked on a period of democratic renewal.”
As the ballots are tallied and the country awaits the official results, Bangladesh stands at a crossroads. The energy and optimism seen at the polls hint at a new era, but the true test will be how the country’s leaders—and its people—navigate the transition from protest to governance.