Bangladeshis voted on Thursday in a national election aimed at restoring an elected government after the 2024 removal of long time prime minister Sheikh Hasina, with authorities deploying large security forces and officials describing the poll as a key test of political stability in the country of about 175 million people.
Polling stations opened at 7:30 a.m. local time and were scheduled to close at 4:30 p.m., according to the Election Commission. Counting was to begin soon after, with early trends expected around midnight and clearer results likely by Friday morning.
Nearly 128 million voters are registered, officials said, about 49% of them women. Voting in one constituency was postponed after the death of a candidate. More than 2,000 candidates are contesting 300 parliamentary seats in the Jatiya Sangsad, or House of the Nation, and at least 50 parties are participating, the highest number recorded in a national election.
The vote follows months of unrest that culminated in Hasina’s removal from office in 2024 after large protests across major cities. She is now in self imposed exile in India, a long standing regional partner of Bangladesh. Her Awami League party has been barred from contesting the election.
The main competition is between alliances led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, or BNP, and the Islamist Jamaat e Islami. Opinion surveys have suggested an advantage for the BNP, though analysts say turnout and the performance of independent candidates could shape the final outcome.
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An interim administration headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus has overseen preparations since Hasina’s departure. “This election is not just another routine vote,” Yunus said earlier this week. “The public awakening we witnessed against long standing anger, inequality, deprivation and injustice finds its constitutional expression in this election.”
Alongside parliamentary voting, citizens are also deciding on proposed constitutional reforms. The measures include establishing a neutral caretaker government during election periods, creating a bicameral legislature, expanding women’s representation, strengthening judicial independence and introducing a two term limit for the prime minister.
Security was tightened nationwide. Authorities said more than 100,000 members of the army, navy and air force were deployed to assist nearly 200,000 police officers in maintaining order around polling centers and transport routes.
The campaign period was largely peaceful, though officials reported a small number of isolated incidents. “The crucial test for Bangladesh now will be to ensure the election is conducted fairly and impartially, and for all parties to then accept the result,” said Thomas Kean, a senior consultant at the International Crisis Group. “If that happens, it will be the strongest evidence yet that Bangladesh has indeed embarked on a period of democratic renewal.”
Bangladesh has experienced disputed elections in previous years, including boycotts by opposition groups and allegations of intimidation. Authorities said the large number of contestants and participation by independents marked a departure from earlier cycles.
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Economic concerns have been prominent among voters. Surveys cited corruption and inflation as leading issues, while unrest during the protests disrupted industrial production, including the garments sector, one of the world’s largest apparel export industries.
The two leading prime ministerial contenders are BNP leader Tarique Rahman and Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman. They are not related.
Some voters said practical constraints could affect participation. Chan Mia, a rickshaw puller in Dhaka, said traveling to his home village to vote would mean losing daily income. Others expressed dissatisfaction because the Awami League is barred from the contest.
But other citizens said they intended to participate. “During Hasina’s time, we couldn’t cast our votes,” said Shakil Ahmed, a driver. “It’s my right to vote. This time, I won’t miss it.”
Election officials said preliminary results would be released after counting begins, with full official results expected on Friday.