Polls opened across Bangladesh on Thursday (February 12, 2026), allowing voters to cast ballots in a parliamentary election widely viewed as a crucial test of the country’s democracy after years of political turmoil.
After casting his vote, Tarique Rahman said he has not yet received reports from all parts of the country but confirmed that officials informed him about several unexpected incidents in different areas overnight. He stated that such incidents were undesirable, adding that law enforcement agencies responded strictly to each situation. He also expressed confidence that a strong voter turnout would defeat any conspiracy.
When asked about possible election results, the BNP chairman struck an optimistic tone. He said it was too early to predict the outcome since voting had just begun, but added that he remained hopeful and had full faith in the people’s verdict.
Bangladesh Islamist Leader Vows Action to Ensure Fair Vote
Shafiqur Rahman, chief of Bangladesh’s Islamist-led coalition, warned on Thursday that his influential party would challenge any allegations of vote rigging in the country’s closely fought elections.
After casting his ballot in Dhaka, the Jamaat-e-Islami leader told reporters that he would spare no one if serious accusations emerged and that he would take whatever steps were necessary.
He also stressed that people must not lose their democratic rights and urged citizens to leave their homes, cast their votes, and help build the country.
Bangladesh Votes After Hasina Exit: What’s at Stake
Bangladesh headed to the polls on Thursday for its first national election since protesters toppled Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024, ending an 18-month transition that Muhammad Yunus led. Nearly 127 million voters will choose a new government and decide on the July Charter, a sweeping package of constitutional reforms. With the Awami League out of the race, the BNP and a Jamaat-NCP alliance now lead a contest that could reshape the country’s political future.
This election is the first since weeks of mass protests forced Hasina from power in 2024. She fled abroad, and authorities barred her party from the polls