Dhaka, Feb 1: Bangladesh will head to the polls on February 12 for parliamentary elections alongside a nationwide referendum on sweeping political reforms, in what is seen as the country’s most consequential vote in decades.The election comes after a dramatic political upheaval that ended Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s rule in August 2024 following mass student-led protests.
More than 127 million voters are eligible to participate, but the political landscape has been radically altered by the banning of Hasina’s Awami League under anti-terrorism laws.
Its exclusion has narrowed the main contest to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), widely viewed as the frontrunner, and Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies.
Observers warn that the absence of a major party and heightened political tensions risk undermining the election’s competitiveness, legitimacy, and stability.
Interim Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has pledged a free and fair vote, calling the election and referendum a foundation for a “new Bangladesh.”
However, many Awami League supporters remain uncertain, with some expressing fear of political targeting or considering boycotting the polls.
Surveys show a large share of these voters undecided, while a significant number appear inclined toward the BNP, which has sought to attract them by emphasizing secular nationalism and the legacy of the 1971 Liberation War.
Alongside the election, voters will decide on the July National Charter, an 84-point reform package aimed at reshaping the political system.
The interim government’s open support for a “yes” vote has drawn criticism from legal experts, opposition figures, and foreign lawmakers, who question both the neutrality of the administration and the constitutional basis of the referendum.
Critics also argue that the binary “yes or no” choice oversimplifies complex reforms, adding to voter confusion and political sensitivity.
As Bangladesh approaches its February 12 elections, Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB) has questioned the credibility of both the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, accusing them of failing to serve public interests while in power.
Addressing a rally in Gazipur, IAB chief Syed Muhammad Rezaul Karim criticised the BNP-Jamaat alliance’s 2001–06 rule, alleging widespread corruption, terrorism and manipulation of the caretaker government system, which he said led to prolonged political instability.
Karim urged voters not to trust BNP or Jamaat again, claiming their return would not bring meaningful development.
He also sought support for IAB candidate GM Ruhul Amin and appealed to voters on religious grounds, promoting Shariah and Islam.
IAB recently split from the Jamaat-led alliance over seat-sharing disputes and ideological differences, announcing plans to contest independently in 268 constituencies.
The rift highlights growing political fragmentation and intensified power struggles among parties ahead of the polls.