Bangladesh Votes in First Post-Hasina Election
News Desk
Dhaka: Bangladesh began voting on Thursday in its first national election since the deadly 2024 uprising that toppled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, with long queues forming at polling stations across the country amid expectations of a closely contested race.
Polling opened at 7:30am local time (0130 GMT), which corresponds to 6:30am Pakistan Standard Time, across 299 constituencies nationwide and will continue until 4:30pm (3:30pm PST). Manual counting of ballots will begin after voting concludes.
Around 127 million voters in the country of 170 million people are eligible to cast their ballots to elect 300 members of parliament, while an additional 50 seats reserved for women will be allocated from party lists.
The election marks a pivotal moment for the South Asian nation following the ouster of Hasina in August 2024 after 15 years in power. Her Awami League party has been barred from contesting by the interim administration led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus.
Hasina, 78, was sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity over the deadly crackdown on protesters during her final months in office and is currently in India.
Read More: https://thepenpk.com/bangladesh-votes-after-15-years-of-rule/
Main contenders
The main contest is between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by 60-year-old Tarique Rahman, and Jamaat-e-Islami, headed by 67-year-old Shafiqur Rahman.
Tarique Rahman, son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, is the BNP’s prime ministerial candidate and is seeking to return his party to power. Shafiqur Rahman, a former political prisoner, is Jamaat-e-Islami’s candidate and could lead the first Islamist-led government in constitutionally secular Bangladesh if his party secures victory.
Opinion polls vary, though most suggest the BNP holds a slight edge, with some indicating a razor-thin margin between the two camps. Observers have predicted a potentially historic voter turnout in what is widely seen as a defining election.
Jamaat has mounted an extensive grassroots campaign centred on promises of justice, anti-corruption reforms and merit-based governance.
In his final campaign address, Shafiqur Rahman called for unity and said leadership should not be determined by family background.
Read More: https://thepenpk.com/elections-loom-as-bangladesh-shifts-toward-china/
He also praised young voters, particularly Generation Z, describing them as the “heroes” of the July revolution and urging citizens not to be swayed by propaganda but to fulfil their democratic duty.
BNP leader Tarique Rahman has pledged to restore stability and revive the battered economy if elected. “The economy has been destroyed,” he said, pointing to rising unemployment and vowing to create business opportunities and jobs for young people.
Security and reforms
The Bangladesh Election Commission said approximately 300,000 security personnel, including members of the army and police, have been deployed nationwide to maintain law and order. Authorities have assured voters that the polls will be conducted in a free and fair manner.
In addition to electing lawmakers, voters are participating in a nationwide referendum on key constitutional reforms. The proposals include introducing term limits for the prime minister, creating a new upper house of parliament, strengthening presidential powers and enhancing judicial independence.
Interim leader Muhammad Yunus, 85, who has governed since Hasina’s removal, has championed the reform package, describing it as essential to prevent a return to one-party rule and to repair what he termed a “completely broken” system of governance. Yunus will step down after the elections.
Read More: https://thepenpk.com/un-appeals-for-calm-as-bangladesh-protests-turn-violent/
“The significance of this day is far-reaching,” Yunus said ahead of the vote, adding that the outcome would determine the future direction of the country and the character and durability of its democracy.
In his final address before polling began, Yunus urged citizens to honour the sacrifices of the 2024 uprising and to put national interest above partisan considerations.
“Victory is part of democracy; defeat is also an inevitable part,” he said. “Please dedicate yourselves to building a new, just, and inclusive Bangladesh.”
A crucial democratic test
Analysts say the credibility and acceptance of the election results will be critical for Bangladesh’s democratic future.
“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,” said Thomas Kean of the International Crisis Group.
He added that a transparent and peaceful process would offer strong evidence that the country has embarked on a period of democratic renewal.
The next government will inherit significant challenges, including high unemployment, economic strain in the world’s second-largest garment-exporting nation, and delicate diplomatic relations with neighbouring India.
As voting continues nationwide, Bangladesh stands at a crossroads, with the outcome set to shape its political trajectory for years to come.
