• Bangladesh will hold national elections on February 12, 2026, marking its first vote since 2024's student-led uprising.
• The interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has faced challenges in stabilizing the political landscape.
• Sheikh Hasina's Awami League is banned from participating, shaping a tense electoral atmosphere.
• Voters will also partake in a referendum on the proposed "July Charter" reforms alongside the elections.
• The election is seen as a crucial test of democratic norms and political stability in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh is set to hold parliamentary elections on February 12, 2026, which will be the country’s first national vote since the student-led uprising in 2024 that led to the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The polls will coincide with a national referendum regarding the proposed "July charter," which envisions significant reforms to enhance the judiciary’s independence and reduce executive powers. Approximately 128 million voters are expected to cast their ballots across more than 42,000 polling stations, as noted by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin during a televised address, according to Indiatimes, Channel News Asia, and Al Jazeera.

The political landscape remains precarious for the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. Even as he welcomed the election announcement as a major milestone in Bangladesh’s democratic journey, protests due to delays in political reforms have rekindled tensions. The Awami League, associated with Hasina, remains barred from the electoral process, further complicating the political fabric, as stated by multiple sources, including Indiatimes, Channel News Asia, and Al Jazeera.

Key political dynamics will feature the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, seen as the frontrunner, alongside Jamaat-e-Islami, which is participating after previously being barred. The newly established National Citizens Party, formed by student leaders from the 2024 uprising, faces challenges in converting grassroots support into substantial electoral backing. These organizational complexities highlight the ongoing struggle for a stable and democratic political environment in Bangladesh, according to Indiatimes, Channel News Asia, and Al Jazeera.