DHAKA: Bangladesh heads to the polls on Thursday as the official election campaign concluded with rival alliances making final appeals to voters in a race shaped by demands for ethical leadership, anti-corruption reforms, and strong participation from younger voters.
The general election will be the country’s first since the July 2024 mass uprising that ended Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule, an episode that left around 1,400 people dead and thousands injured, according to the United Nations. The vote is widely seen as a turning point for Bangladesh’s political future.
The contest is primarily between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a rival bloc led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, with both sides claiming to embody the spirit of last year’s protests. The National Citizen Party, formed by student leaders who spearheaded the uprising, has joined the Jamaat-led alliance.
In a televised address on Monday night, BNP chairman Tarique Rahman, a leading contender for prime minister, promised to restore the rule of law, protect national sovereignty, and impose strict controls on corruption if elected.
Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman urged voters to choose “ethical” leadership, saying the 2024 uprising reflected a public demand to end discrimination and dynastic politics.
Opinion polls suggest a tight race with no clear favourite. Analysts say Generation Z voters, many of whom played a central role in last year’s protests, could prove decisive as they prioritise accountability, transparency, and institutional reform.
Alongside the parliamentary vote on Thursday, Bangladesh will also hold a referendum on four key reform proposals, which interim authorities say is crucial to preventing a return to misrule.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus described the election as pivotal, saying the referendum outcome could determine whether lasting political change takes hold.
“If the ‘Yes’ vote wins, the country will change, and misrule will not return,” Yunus said.
