Bangladesh Election 2026: "Democracy Is Reborn Today," Says Muhammad Yunus As Voting Begins
Bangladesh began voting on Thursday in a crucial parliamentary election that is being seen as a major turning point for the country’s democracy.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, after casting his vote, said, “Democracy is reborn in Bangladesh today.” He urged citizens not only to vote for their preferred party candidates but also to take part in the referendum (Gono Vote) to ensure the continuation of democracy in the country.
Polling started at 7:30 a.m. and will continue until 4:30 p.m. Counting of votes will begin soon after polling ends. Early trends are expected around midnight, and final results are likely by Friday morning, according to Election Commission officials.
This is Bangladesh’s first general election since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government collapsed in 2024 following weeks of mass protests. Hasina left the country, and her party, the Awami League, is not participating in this election.
Nearly 50 political parties are contesting the polls. However, the main battle is largely seen as a two-way contest between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and an 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami.
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The BNP, led by Tarique Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is considered to have an edge according to opinion polls. Challenging the BNP is the Jamaat-led alliance, which also includes the newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP), created by student leaders from the recent uprising.
