Campaigning starts for Bangladeshs first national election after Hasinas ouster
The Associated Press5 days
Bangladesh Election: Overview
Is this election a historic opportunity for democratic reform or a staged trap to legitimize fundamentalist rule?
Above: The Election Commission conducts a mock voting exercise in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Nov. 29, 2025. Image credit: MD Abu Sufian Jewel/NurPhoto/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-government narrative
The July mass uprising created an extraordinary opportunity to establish democracy, justice and human rights in Bangladesh. The referendum scheduled for Feb. 12 — alongside parliamentary elections — offers citizens the chance to approve reforms built on consensus among all political parties. A "yes" vote ensures the government and opposition collaborate on forming caretaker governments and the Election Commission, prevents constitutional amendments without public consent, limits prime ministers to 10-year terms maximum and strengthens judicial independence, among many other once-in-a-generation reforms that will reshape the nation's political foundations. The key to building a new Bangladesh now lies in the hands of its citizens.
Opposition narrative
This election is a staged drama orchestrated by an illegal Jamaat-backed Yunus government. Just as extremist fundamentalist forces seized power in July-August using ordinary students as cover, the same strategy applies again. The Bangladesh Awami League, the party that led the independence struggle, faces deliberate exclusion, proving this election cannot belong to the people. Since seizing power, the Yunus government has pushed an organized country toward destruction, threatening the economy, security and social harmony while creating space for fundamentalism and militancy. This constitutes not a legitimate vote but a conspiracy to capture the state and legitimize a rigged election through predetermined scripts rather than genuine public opinion.
Narrative C
Bangladesh's 2026 parliamentary election is rapidly evolving into a deeply polarized two-horse race between the BNP-led alliance and an Islamist bloc anchored by Jamaat-e-Islami. With smaller parties stepping aside, the BNP alliance has nominated candidates in the majority of constituencies, while Jamaat and its allied Islamist groups together contest hundreds of seats, leaving little space for independent or secular challengers. For neighboring India, this isn't just internal politics: policymakers are alert to rising anti-India rhetoric and Jamaat's growing influence, given its historical ideological ties and organizational strength. A strengthened Islamist force, or a coalition dependent on such support, could complicate regional security cooperation, border management and diplomatic ties.
Public Figures
Establishment split
CRITICAL
PRO
© 2026 Improve the News Foundation. All rights reserved.Version 6.18.0
© 2026 Improve the News Foundation.
All rights reserved.
Version 6.18.0