Bangladesh Election 2026 Voting Live Updates: Bangladesh heads into its first parliamentary election since Sheikh Hasina’s ouster, with the Awami League barred, BNP leading the race, and voters simultaneously deciding on a sweeping 84-point reform referendum amid tight security
Bangladesh Election 2026
Bangladesh is set to hold its 13th parliamentary elections today, nearly 18 months after a student-led uprising brought down former PM Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government. In the aftermath of those protests, an interim administration led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus took charge, marking a dramatic shift in the country’s political landscape.
Against this backdrop, the election is historic for several reasons. For one, the Awami League—once the dominant political force in the country—has been barred from contesting. At the same time, voters will also participate in a nationwide referendum on an 84-point reform package aimed at overhauling governance and political systems, making this a dual exercise with long-term implications.
Meanwhile, the main contest is shaping up between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its former ally Jamaat-e-Islami. With the Awami League out of the picture, the BNP has emerged as the clear frontrunner. At the forefront of its campaign is Tarique Rahman, the 60-year-old son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, whose leadership has energized party supporters ahead of the vote.
As polling gets underway, voting will begin at 7:30 am local time across 299 constituencies and continue until 4:30 pm. However, voting in one constituency has been cancelled following the death of a candidate.
In terms of participation, a total of 50 political parties are contesting, fielding 1,755 candidates, alongside 273 independents. To ensure a smooth process, nearly 900,000 law enforcement personnel have been deployed nationwide, according to Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin.
Follow this space for all the latest updates.
Historic polls set to reshape Bangladesh’s political landscape
Tarique Rahman, son of former PM Khaleda Zia, returned to Dhaka after 17 years in exile and is seen as Thursday’s election front-runner
Bangladesh votes on today in its 13th general election, the first since Sheikh Hasina’s ouster. With the Awami League banned, the BNP leads the race as voters also decide on an 84-point reform referendum.
