Bangladesh to Hold First Parliamentary Election on February 12 After 2024 Uprising
The elections will be held alongside a national referendum seeking public approval for a set of reform proposals...
Bangladesh is set to hold parliamentary election on February 12, marking the country’s first national poll since the 2024 uprising that led to the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government.
The election will bring an end to the interim administration led by Nobel laureate Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The contest has largely evolved into a bipolar race between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami (JI).
BNP leader Tarique Rahman, the son of late former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is widely regarded as the frontrunner in the election. He recently returned to Bangladesh after 17 years of self-imposed exile.
The elections will be held alongside a national referendum seeking public approval for a set of reform proposals titled the “July National Charter–2025.” Voters will be asked to respond with a simple “yes” or “no.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said that a “yes” vote would signify public consent for implementing the proposed reform package. The referendum was first proposed by Yunus on October 17.
The July National Charter–2025 aims to introduce reforms to the constitution, electoral system, judiciary, public administration, police administration, and anti-corruption mechanisms.
Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the country to India on August 5, 2024, following the unrest. Subsequently, an interim government was formed under the leadership of Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus to oversee the transition.
Senior Secretary of the Bangladesh Election Commission, Akhtar Ahmed, on Wednesday expressed confidence in the smooth conduct of the election while speaking to news agency ANI.
He said polling would begin at 7:30 a.m. on February 12, adding, “From my understanding, there are no security concerns regarding the election, and everything is in order.”
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