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Bangladesh to hold polls on Feb 12, 2026: Key parties and major issues explained

Bangladesh heads into a landmark February election, the first since the 2024 student uprising that ousted Sheikh Hasina, with the BNP leading a dramatically reshaped political field after the Awami League was barred from contesting. Jamaat-e-Islami has re-emerged as a major contender, while the newly formed National Citizen Party struggles to gain ground. Voters will weigh various issues as the country attempts to rebuild democratic governance.

Students wave the Bangladesh flag during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’s ‘March for Unity’ at Shaheed Minar.
Students wave the Bangladesh flag during the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement’s ‘March for Unity’ at Shaheed Minar. Credit:Getty
| Updated on: Dec 11, 2025 | 07:17 PM

New Delhi: Bangladesh will hold a national election in February, the first since the student-led uprising that removed long-time leader Sheikh Hasina from power in August 2024. Her Awami League, the country’s largest political force for decades, has been barred from contesting, dramatically altering the political landscape in the Muslim-majority nation of 173 million.

Political parties in race

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP): Helmed by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, the BNP is viewed as the favourite. A December survey by the U.S.-based International Republican Institute indicated the party could secure the most parliamentary seats. Founded in 1978 by Zia’s late husband, former President Ziaur Rahman, the BNP espouses Bangladeshi nationalism, market-driven reforms and a strong anti-corruption agenda. Khaleda’s health concerns and the absence of her son Tarique Rahman, the acting chief currently in exile in London, pose major challenges. Rahman has pledged to return ahead of the polls.

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Jamaat-e-Islami: Banned during Hasina’s tenure, Jamaat has re-entered the political arena following the uprising and is projected to finish second. Under the leadership of Shafiqur Rahman, the party continues to advocate for Islamic governance based on sharia law, while attempting to broaden its support base. Its platform includes a push for a “mafia-free society” and strong anti-graft measures. Jamaat previously partnered with the BNP in government from 2001 to 2006.

National Citizen Party (NCP): Born out of the protest movement, the NCP has struggled to convert mass mobilisation into electoral clout due to organisational weaknesses and limited finances. Polling places it well behind the BNP and Jamaat. Its 24-point agenda proposes sweeping reforms, including a new constitution, judicial overhaul, free media, universal healthcare and education, and enhanced climate resilience. The party is led by 27-year-old Nahid Islam, one of the prominent faces of last year’s demonstrations.

Key issues shaping the election

  • Restoring democratic governance after the violent unrest that led to the installation of an unelected interim administration headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
  • A proposed national referendum on the “July Charter”, which calls for greater representation for women in parliament, term limits for prime ministers, expanded presidential authority, stronger fundamental rights, and judicial independence.
  • Stabilising the economy, especially the garment export sector hit hard by months of political turmoil.
  • Resetting relations with India, strained by New Delhi’s closeness to Hasina, who has been staying in the Indian capital since fleeing Dhaka. The diplomatic drift has created opportunities for deeper Chinese engagement in Bangladesh.
  • Combating entrenched corruption and strengthening institutions.
  • Ensuring an independent judiciary amid widespread criticism of political interference under past governments.
  • Safeguarding press freedom after years marked by censorship, intimidation and restrictive laws.

The February vote will test whether Bangladesh can navigate its most pivotal political transition in decades and rebuild democratic credibility after a year of upheaval.

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