Votes are being counted in Bangladesh after its first election since student-led protests ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024. More than 2,000 candidates are vying for 300 elected seats in parliament, though none from the banned Awami League of Hasina, who fled after 15 years in power following a brutal security crackdown that led to the deaths of hundreds of protesters.
The election pits the centre-right Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) against a coalition led by the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, which joined forces with a party born out of the student uprising. Results are expected on Friday, and there is widespread hope among voters for a return to democracy.
For the first time since 2008, the outcome of a Bangladesh election cannot be predicted with certainty; past elections were largely considered rigged in favor of Sheikh Hasina. She has been convicted and sentenced to death in absentia for her role in the crackdown against protesters, which the UN estimates resulted in the deaths of as many as 1,400. Having fled into exile in India, Hasina has dismissed the legitimacy of the election.
The absence of the Awami League casts doubts on the election’s fairness, but many voters feel empowered with their choice. Over 120 million people were eligible to vote, with about four in ten younger than 37, participating in a constitutional referendum proposed by the interim government aimed at reforming the political system.
Interim leader Muhammad Yunus declared after voting that the country had 'ended the nightmare and begun a new dream'. Turnout was reported at 49% by 14:00 local time.
Authorities deployed nearly a million police and soldiers to ensure order during the elections, while leading candidates Tarique Rahman of the BNP and Jamaat's Shafiqur Rahman expressed optimism about their prospects.
The political landscape has shifted significantly, with Jamaat-e-Islami emerging as a noteworthy participant after years of suppression under Hasina's regime, though female candidates remain minimal in their representation.
This election not only determines parliamentary leadership but also serves as an indicator of the country's willingness to reform its political system and address historical injustices.
The election pits the centre-right Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) against a coalition led by the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, which joined forces with a party born out of the student uprising. Results are expected on Friday, and there is widespread hope among voters for a return to democracy.
For the first time since 2008, the outcome of a Bangladesh election cannot be predicted with certainty; past elections were largely considered rigged in favor of Sheikh Hasina. She has been convicted and sentenced to death in absentia for her role in the crackdown against protesters, which the UN estimates resulted in the deaths of as many as 1,400. Having fled into exile in India, Hasina has dismissed the legitimacy of the election.
The absence of the Awami League casts doubts on the election’s fairness, but many voters feel empowered with their choice. Over 120 million people were eligible to vote, with about four in ten younger than 37, participating in a constitutional referendum proposed by the interim government aimed at reforming the political system.
Interim leader Muhammad Yunus declared after voting that the country had 'ended the nightmare and begun a new dream'. Turnout was reported at 49% by 14:00 local time.
Authorities deployed nearly a million police and soldiers to ensure order during the elections, while leading candidates Tarique Rahman of the BNP and Jamaat's Shafiqur Rahman expressed optimism about their prospects.
The political landscape has shifted significantly, with Jamaat-e-Islami emerging as a noteworthy participant after years of suppression under Hasina's regime, though female candidates remain minimal in their representation.
This election not only determines parliamentary leadership but also serves as an indicator of the country's willingness to reform its political system and address historical injustices.
