WEB DESK: Bangladesh has successfully conducted its first general election following the landmark student-led protests of 2024, which brought an end to Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year tenure as Prime Minister.
The polling stations closed at 4:30 pm local time (10:30 GMT) after a significant day where citizens not only elected a new government but also voted on a historic constitutional reform referendum. It marked the first time in the country’s history that both events were held simultaneously. Official results are expected by Friday.
This election holds pivotal importance for Bangladesh, especially after a tumultuous year characterized by widespread unrest. A violent crackdown during mass demonstrations against Hasina’s increasingly authoritarian governance resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,400 protesters. Although Hasina denies authorizing the violent measures, her party, the Awami League, was barred from competing in this election based on a court decision invoking anti-terrorism laws.
Since Hasina’s departure, an interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, has been managing the country. The election sees key political players like the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami participating. Notably, Jamaat-e-Islami has allied with a political force that emerged from the student uprising.
Nearly one million security personnel were deployed nationwide to ensure a peaceful voting process, amid concerns over potential violence. Despite initial apprehensions, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman reported that voting proceeded “fairly peacefully.”
Against this backdrop, voters prioritized pressing issues such as rising inflation, widespread corruption, unemployment, and urgent democratic reforms. These concerns have made this election a defining moment in Bangladesh’s political journey.
By midday, voter turnout stood at 32.88%, according to the Bangladesh Election Commission. Officials noted that the figure was drawn from data collected at more than 32,000 of the country’s 42,000 polling centers. Voting concluded later in the afternoon across all locations, with expectations of higher overall participation rates by day’s end. However, a final consolidated turnout number is still awaited.
Polling began at 7:30 am under tight security measures to maintain order across the numerous precincts. This election, being the first since the transformative youth-led uprising, is viewed as a crucial test of Bangladesh’s path toward a more democratic governance structure following years of autocracy.
With voting now complete, attention shifts toward the vote-counting process. While election authorities have not given a precise timeline for preliminary or final results, the outcome is poised to significantly influence Bangladesh’s political and economic trajectory in the near future.
