Elections in Bangladesh: looking towards the future | Explained

The story so far: The fate of the ‘Second Liberation’ of Bangladesh shall be decided on February 12, the day of its general elections. Around 12.7 crore voters are going to cast their vote for 300 seats of the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) and for a national referendum on the July charter.

Who is contesting in this election?

A total of 2,034 candidates, including 275 independents, are contesting this election. There are 80 candidates from the minority Hindu community and 85 women candidates. There were 17 Hindu MPs in the 2024 Jatiya Sangsad. Currently, there are 59 registered political parties in Bangladesh, of which 51 are participating in the elections. There are two major blocs — the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and a 11 party alliance which includes Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP) among others. The BNP is contesting for 292 seats out of the 300, leaving the remaining seats for its coalition partners. Jamaat is contesting in 224 seats; they have no women candidates, and only one Hindu candidate. The NCP, a youth party that emerged after the July Revolution, is contesting in 30 seats.

What is the Awami League’s status?

The Awami League (AL), which was the party of the ousted former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, has had its registration suspended by the Bangladesh election commission. In May 2025, the interim government headed by Mohd. Yunus banned all activities of Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act. According to Transparency International Bangladesh, 1,785 cases had been filed nationwide against AL activists and supporters as of November 19, 2025. AFM Bahauddin Nasim, joint general secretary of the Awami League, told The Hindu on February 8, that the party has boycotted the election and instructed its supporters not to vote. Ms. Hasina has maintained that the elections are undemocratic, and that a large section of the population will boycott the polls.

What is the national referendum?

Apart from the general elections, citizens are also required to vote “Yes” or “No” on the July charter. After the ouster of Ms. Hasina, following mass protests against her government, in 2024, faith was reposed in Nobel Laureate Mohd. Yunus. Mr. Yunus was appointed Chief Adviser to the interim government and also made chair of the National Consensus Commission (NSS). The NSS was to suggest structural reforms to the state which include constitutional, electoral, and judicial amendments. Of the 166 recommendations of the NCC, 84 were taken up forming the “National Charter of July 2025”. Major reforms in the charter are centred around making constitutional bodies more independent, proposing a bicameral legislature, and increasing women’s representation in parliament. If the “Yes” vote prevails then the newly formed parliament will be bound to implement the charter’s provisions within 180 days. If its “No”, then the risk of one-party rule and weak institutions will loom over Bangladesh’s future.

What have been India’s observations?

India was invited by Mr. Yunus as an observer for the elections. More than 330 international observers, double that of the previous controversial 2024 elections, have been invited as observers. India is yet to confirm this invitation.

India remains the largest trading partner of Bangladesh in South Asia. Many infrastructure and connectivity projects like the Kolkata–Khulna, Agartala–Akhaura, Haldibari–Chilahati as well as the 1,000 MW electricity export to Bangladesh and the Tripura-Comilla power link are the strategic pillars of this bilateral relationship. However, since the 2024 regime change, there has been a degree of ambivalence between the two nations. Only time will tell how the relationship will progress between the two neighbours.

Tabshir Shams is a postgraduate student from South Asian University, Delhi.