Bangladesh is currently holding its first general election and a historic constitutional referendum today, Thursday, 12 February 2026.
This landmark vote marks a pivotal moment for the country’s return to democracy following the 2024 student-led uprising that toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Nearly 128 million eligible voters are heading to the polls to elect 300 members of the Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament).
Simultaneously, voters are deciding on the July National Charter 2025, a set of constitutional reforms that include a two-term limit for prime ministers and measures to ensure judicial independence.
The election is being held under a caretaker government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who has vowed to step down once a new government is formed.
Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, the party that ruled for 15 years is banned from participating in this election.
Hasina herself was sentenced to death in absentia last year for crimes against humanity and remains in exile in India.
Major Contenders
With the Awami League excluded, the election has become a “bipolar contest” between two major blocs.
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP): Led by Tarique Rahman, the son of former leaders Khaleda Zia and Ziaur Rahman. The BNP is currently considered the frontrunner.
11-Party Alliance: Spearheaded by the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, led by Shafiqur Rahman, and includes the National Citizen Party (NCP), which was formed by the Gen-Z student leaders of the 2024 uprising.
Election Day Updates
Voting began at 7:30 a.m. local time across roughly 42,000 polling stations. Reports indicate enthusiastic turnout, especially among nearly 5 million first-time voters.
Over one million security personnel, including the army, have been deployed to maintain order.
While largely peaceful, a crude bomb explosion in Gopalganj injured three people, and minor clashes between BNP and Jamaat supporters were reported in Mirpur, Dhaka.
For the first time in Bangladesh’s history, expatriates are able to vote via postal ballot.
Results Timeline
Polls are scheduled to close at 4:30 p.m. local time today. Counting will begin immediately after, with early trends expected around midnight and final results likely becoming clear by Friday morning, 13 February 2026.
