Bangladesh is going to the polls for the first time since a mass uprising led by a young leader in his early thirties brought down the previous government, Reuters reported on Thursday.
Observers say the election’s outcome will be critical for restoring stability in the South Asian nation of around 175 million people. The country has experienced months of turbulence following the deadly anti-Sheikh Hasina protests, which disrupted key industries, including the garment sector — the world’s second-largest exporter of ready-made garments.
Nepal is also preparing for elections next month after a comparable public movement forced out its government.
In Bangladesh, two major alliances led by the country’s dominant political forces are contesting the vote. One bloc is headed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), while the other is led by the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami. The two parties had previously worked together as allies. Pre-election surveys suggest the BNP holds a slight advantage.
Even before polling stations opened in Dhaka at 7:30 a.m. local time, long queues had formed. Among those waiting was 39-year-old Mohammad Jobair Hossain, who told Reuters that he had not voted since 2008.
“I feel very excited,” he said while standing in line. “After 17 years, we are finally voting freely. This time our vote truly matters.”
The Awami League, led by former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has been banned, and she is currently in exile in India — a development that has strained relations between Dhaka and New Delhi while creating space for China to expand its regional influence.
Previous elections held under Hasina’s administration faced criticism over alleged opposition boycotts and claims of voter intimidation.
More than 2,000 candidates are contesting 300 parliamentary seats, with a significant number running as independents. Voting in one constituency has been postponed following the death of a candidate. A record 50 political parties are participating in the election.
“This is not just another routine election,” Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus, who heads the interim government formed after Hasina’s removal, said earlier this week.
He described the vote as a constitutional expression of long-standing public grievances over discrimination, injustice and deprivation.
Alongside the parliamentary election, voters are also participating in a referendum on proposed constitutional reforms. These proposals include forming a neutral interim administration during elections, introducing a bicameral parliament, enhancing women’s representation, strengthening judicial independence and limiting the prime minister to two terms.
Although expectations of a tight race are high, the campaign period has remained largely peaceful, with only a few isolated incidents reported nationwide.
“The real challenge for Bangladesh is to conduct a free and impartial election and ensure that all sides accept the results,” said Thomas Kean, a senior consultant at the International Crisis Group. “If that happens, it will signal that Bangladesh is genuinely moving toward democratic renewal.”
The Election Commission said approximately 958,000 members of police, army and paramilitary forces have been deployed across the country to maintain security. Security personnel were visibly stationed outside most polling centers.
Polling will conclude at 4:30 p.m., after which vote counting will begin. Initial results are expected around midnight, with clearer outcomes likely by Friday morning.
There are roughly 128 million registered voters, 49 percent of whom are women. However, only 83 female candidates are contesting. Nearly half of all voters are aged between 18 and 35, many casting ballots for the first time.
In one primary school near Dhaka converted into a temporary polling center, long lines of women in burqas were seen waiting to vote. Among them was 32-year-old housewife Ruma Khatun, who had the Jamaat-e-Islami symbol, “daripalla,” drawn on her hand with henna.
“I want Dr. Shafiqur Rahman to become prime minister,” she said. “He can establish justice and build a corruption-free, developed Bangladesh.”
The two leading prime ministerial contenders are BNP’s Tarique Rahman and Jamaat-e-Islami’s Amir Dr. Shafiqur Rahman.
Despite the enthusiasm, some citizens remain reluctant to participate. Rickshaw puller Chan Mia said traveling back to his village to vote would mean losing a day’s earnings in Dhaka. Others, like doorman Mohammad Sabuj, expressed disappointment over the absence of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League from the race.
Still, many are determined to cast their ballots. “We couldn’t vote properly during Hasina’s time,” said driver Shakil Ahmed. “Voting is my right. I won’t miss this opportunity.”
