Bangladesh is fully prepared for its historic general election tomorrow, February 12, 2026 — the first since the 2024 student-led uprising ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after 15 years in power.
The Election Commission has confirmed that all arrangements are complete: ballot papers and materials delivered to nearly all 300 constituencies, over 42,761 polling centers set up across 64 districts, and more than 127 million eligible voters ready to cast ballots from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. local time. This vote coincides with a nationwide referendum on proposed constitutional and institutional reforms.
The Awami League is banned and absent from the ballot, reshaping the contest. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by figures like Tarique Rahman, leads most opinion polls and is seen as the frontrunner, drawing support from many former Awami League voters. It faces a close challenge from the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance, with surveys showing the race neck-and-neck in some projections (e.g., BNP-led at ~44% vs. Jamaat-led at ~44%). Key voter concerns include corruption, inflation, economic development, and youth employment.
Security measures are robust, with over 150,000 police and 100,000 soldiers deployed amid concerns about potential violence and minority safety.
Results for most seats are expected by Friday morning, marking a pivotal step toward democratic renewal after years of turmoil.
