BNP, Jamaat lead race as Awami League remains banned from contesting
February 12, 2026: Bangladesh is voting today in its 13th parliamentary elections, the first since the 2024 coup that ousted Sheikh Hasina from power. Polling is underway for 300 of the 350 seats in Parliament, with nearly 1,994 candidates in the fray, including 256 independents and nominees from 51 political parties. Around 127.7 million voters are casting their ballots to choose the country’s next Prime Minister. The main contest is between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, and Jamaat-e-Islami, both spearheading multi-party alliances, with surveys suggesting a slight edge for the BNP.
The Awami League, which ruled Bangladesh for 25 years under Sheikh Hasina, has been barred from contesting, marking a historic shift in the country’s political landscape. This is also the first election without former Prime Ministers Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia in the fray. Alongside the parliamentary vote, citizens are participating in a referendum on key constitutional reforms, adding further significance to the electoral exercise.
Security concerns, particularly regarding minority communities and reported attacks on Hindus, have emerged as major campaign issues. With more than half of the population under the age of 30, the polls are being described as a “Gen Z election.” The outcome is expected to shape Bangladesh’s future foreign policy direction, especially whether the new government leans closer to India or towards the China-Pakistan axis.