ELECTION 2026— BANGLADESH
SARASIJ MAJUMDER
The 13th National Parliamentary Election in Bangladesh is officially scheduled for Thursday, February 12, 2026. This will be the first general election since the expulsion of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024 and it will be conducted under the interim government led by Mr. Muhammad Yunus.
Election and Referendum Details: For the first time in Bangladesh’s history, a twin election will occur: voters will simultaneously cast ballots for parliamentary representatives and participate in a nationwide referendum on the “July Charter”.
The July Charter: A reform proposal seeking to curb executive authority, implement term limits for the Prime Minister, strengthen judicial independence, and restructure state institutions.
Voting Logistics: Polling will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at estimated 42,761 centers for an estimated 127.6 million voters.
Expatriate Voting: In a historic first, Bangladeshi expatriates will be permitted to vote via postal ballots.
KEY ELECTION TIMELINE:
Event Dates:
Nomination Deadline: December 29, 2025: — OVER.
Nomination Scrutiny : December 30, 2025 – January 4, 2026—may be over by the time some of you read this BLOG.
Candidature Withdrawal: January 20, 2026.
Symbol Allocation: January 21, 2026.
Campaign Period: January 22 – February 10, 2026.
Election Day: February 12, 2026
Political Landscape is discussed below:
THE AWAMI LEAGUE:
The Awami League (AL), the country’s largest political party for the last 15 years, has been officially banned and is barred from participating in the 2026 election. Shekh Hasina, erstwhile P.M. and leader of AL, is living in exile in India, with a death sentence imposed on her by a Kangaroo Court of Bangladesh.
BANGLADESH NATIONALIST PARTY:
Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is widely seen as the favorite, led by Tarique Rahman who recently returned spending 17 years in exile.
Begam Khaleda Jia—erstwhile president of BNP, and 3 times P.M.—has expired. Her son Tarique Rahman (born 20 November 1965), better known natively as Tarique Zia, is the acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) since February 2018. He returned to Bangladesh on 25 December 2025, before Begam’s demise, taken control of BNP, is the party’s present face, and will fight election as an M.P. from Dacca constituency, will be nominated as P.M. if his party gains majority, and as well as he wins.
BNP+: Is an alliance on BNP including the Gono Odhikar Parishad and several smaller parties.
BANGLADESH JAMAAT-E-ISLAMI:
Expected to be a strong contender, running independently of the BNP for the first time since 1991.
It is a major Islamist political party in Bangladesh that has recently regained its legal status and is preparing for national elections in February 2026 after a decade-long ban. The party is currently seeking to form a unity government and has expanded its electoral alliance.
Current Political Status and Activities of JI: In June 2025, the Bangladesh Supreme Court restored the party’s registration, allowing it to participate in general elections. This followed the withdrawing a full ban by the interim government in August 2024 after the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Electoral Alliance: Jamaat has formed an expanded 10-party alliance ahead of the February 2026 elections, which includes the student-led National Citizen Party (NCP) and the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
Key Leaders: The current Ameer (chief/president) of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is Dr. Shafiqur Rahman. Several other senior leaders of the party were convicted of war crimes by the International Crimes Tribunal during Sheikh Hasina’s tenure, which contributed to the party’s political isolation at that time.
Seeking Unity Government: Party president Shafiqur Rahman has stated that the party is open to a multi-party or unity government after the elections, provided certain conditions are met, including a corruption-free administration and social justice for all.
Public Image Rebranding: The party is attempting to change its public image and move away from associations with its controversial history during the 1971 Liberation War. This includes a discussion of replacing its traditional logo with one featuring a rising sun, a pen, and a balanced scale on an open book to project an image of modernity.
Political Resurgence: Following years of repression, the party has seen a significant resurgence in influence, with opinion polls suggesting it could emerge as the second-largest party after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the upcoming elections.
Background: The party was founded in 1969 as the East Pakistani wing of Jamaat-e-Islami of Pakistan. It supported Pakistan during ‘MUKTI YUDDHA’ and it faced a ban as a religion-based party after Bangladesh’s independence which was later withdrawn. The party has a history of aligning with the BNP in coalition governments, most notably from 2001 to 2006.
An electoral alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami involves 11 likeminded Partes, major one being NCP.
NATIONAL CITIZEN PARTY (NCP):
The National Citizen Party (NCP) (Bengali: জাতীয় নাগরিক পার্টি) is a political party in Bangladesh established on February 28, 2025, by the student leaders of the July 2024 uprising. It emerged from the “Students Against Discrimination” (SAD) movement and the National Citizen Committee, which were instrumental in the ousting of the Awami League government.
Key Facts for NCP:
Convener: Nahid Islam (formerly a key advisor to the interim government).
Member Secretary: Akhter Hossen.
Election Symbol: Shapla Koli (Water Lily Bud), officially allotted by the Election Commission in November 2025.
Registration: Officially registered as a political party on November 17, 2025.
Electoral Strategy: For the upcoming general election on February 12, 2026, the NCP has entered an alliance with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and other parties, a move that was announced on December 28, 2025.
Ideology and Objectives: The party describes itself as centrist and pluralist, though it has faced criticism for moving closer to right-wing groups due to its electoral alliance with Islamist parties.
Its core goals include Establishing a “Second Republic” through a new constitution. Ending the historical two-party dominance of the Awami League and BNP. Eradicating corruption and promoting national unity based on “people’s rights”.
Current Challenges: As of early January 2026, the party is experiencing internal turmoil following its decision to ally with Jamaat-e-Islami:
Resignations: High-profile leaders, including Dr. Tasnim Jara and Dr. Tasnuva Jabeen, resigned in late December 2025 to contest the 2026 elections as independents, citing ideological differences with the alliance.
Internal Opposition: Approximately 30 female leaders and other central committee members signed a memorandum opposing the seat-sharing deal with Jamaat.
Voter Support: A late 2025 survey showed the NCP in a distant third place with approximately 6% support, trailing behind the BNP (30%) and Jamaat (26%). Rest is, I believe Awami League supporters, whose party can’t contest.
AB Party, and Rastro Songskar Andolan are also with NCP.
WHAT EMERGES:
I think it will be a BI-POLAR contest mainly between BNP and JI with BNP having some edge, as of now. In absence of AL, league voters may vote BNP as LESSER EVIL. Hindu votes, if allowed to be cast, will be cast for BNP as a negative vote for JI.
BNP is likely to get some sympathy votes also, because of very recent demise of BEGAM JIA.
ISI, CIA, and MSS (China)—all are highly active in Bangladesh.
A former Bangladeshi Home Minister claimed that CIA orchestrated the recent removal of PM Sheikh Hasina, viewing her as too independent minded and a potential obstacle to US interests in South Asia, alongside powerful leaders like India’s P.M. Modi and China’s Mr. Xi. USA has interest in St. Martin’s island of Bangladesh. AL was considered too close to INDIA, and systematically CIA tried to dismantle it over a long time and succeeded.
This election is very important for INDIA, as well as Pakistan, China, and USA—in that order.
Mr. Jaishankar recently attended the funeral of Begam Jia, on 31st December 2025 representing India, and handed over a closed Condolence Message from P.M. of India to her son, Mr. Rahman, and had a one-to-one discussion with him.
If Mr. Rahman wants to rebuild Bangladesh, he needs India’s support—this is obvious.
DISCLAIMER: – This BLOG is written based on information available in Public Domains, and posted for information only. Inferences, and conclusions if any—are made by BLOGGER
Newspapers of Bangladesh, available as E-Papers, are primary sources of information.
