Bangladesh elections 2026: Voting amid turmoil, security significantly heightened in Dhaka
The election comes at a time of significant change, following the death of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the ongoing ban on her long-time rival, Sheikh Hasina's Awami League party.
PTC News Desk: Bangladesh is set to enter a crucial chapter in its political history as the nation heads to the polls on Thursday.
The election comes at a time of significant change, following the death of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the ongoing ban on her long-time rival, Sheikh Hasina's Awami League party.
This election is seen as a turning point, as the country looks to move beyond the decades-long 'Battle of Begums' era.
Before the upcoming elections in Bangladesh, the situation on the streets looks very different from the 2024 polls. The ‘boat’ symbol of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, which has traditionally shared close ties with India, is missing because the party has been banned from contesting. Instead, posters and banners of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, showing the ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol, and the ‘scales’ symbol of its rival and former ally Jamaat-e-Islami can be seen across public places.
This election is also significant because, for the first time in almost 30 years, neither of Bangladesh’s two major political leaders — Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia — is part of the contest. Hasina is currently in India, while Khaleda Zia died in December last year. After her death, her son Tarique Rahman, who recently returned after spending 17 years in exile in London, is leading the BNP and is considered the main contender to become the next prime minister.