Polls close in first election since Gen Z protests ousted Bangladesh leader

BBC News - WorldEN 1 min read 100% complete February 12, 2026 at 11:56 AM

AI Summary

short article 1 min

Bangladesh held its first election since student-led protests in 2024 ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Over 2,000 candidates are competing for parliamentary seats, excluding members of Hasina's now-banned Awami League. The election features a contest between the center-right Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a coalition led by the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, which includes a party formed from the student uprising. Voters also participated in a referendum on constitutional changes proposed by the interim government. Nearly a million security personnel were deployed to maintain order during the election, with results expected on Friday.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Dhaka ×240% Muhammad Yunus 50% Shafiqur Rahman 50% Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) ×360% Tarique Rahman 60% Jamaat-e-Islami ×270% Sheikh Hasina ×580%

Keywords

bangladesh election 100% student protests 80% political system 70% bangladesh nationalist party 70% sheikh hasina 60% jamaat-e-islami 60% interim government 50% awami league 50% constitutional change 50% political violence 40%