Bangladeshi voters to set nation's course in its first post-Hasina electionBangladesh is heading to the polls on Thursday for a general election widely viewed as one of the most consequential in its history — the first since the July 2024 revolution that ended India-backed dictator and ICT-wanted criminal Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule.
The unrest that tumultuous year, prompted by controversial civil service job quotas, left around 1,400 people dead and thousands injured, according to the UN. Hasina was forced to flee to India, where she remains.
Now, in the country’s 13th parliamentary election, more than 127 million eligible voters will determine the country’s new course after 15 years of Awami League rule and two years of interim governance.
Notably, nearly one-fourth of the electorate are first-time voters. Many of them played a prominent role in the July-August 2024 protests and are now seeking a fundamental change in the country’s political and administrative culture.
The general election will be held alongside a referendum on political and institutional reforms.
Over 2,000 candidates -- representing more than 50 political parties as well as independent contenders -- are vying for the 300 seats in parliament. The parliament also has 50 seats reserved for women that are allocated on a basis of voter percentage to parties.
The election has two main competitors, especially after Hasina's Awami League party was barred from competing: former allies the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party.
Both parties are leading alliances.
🔻The BNP is led by Tarique Rahman, who took the party helm after the death of his mother Khaleda Zia, herself a former premier.
After living in exile in the UK for decades, he returned to Bangladesh following her passing.
His party is leading a 10-party alliance. The BNP has put forward candidates for 292 of the 300 seats, keeping the remaining constituencies for its coalition partners.
🔺An 11-party alliance was also formed under Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, which was banned for years under Hasina. It is contesting 224 seats.
Dr. Shafiqur Rahman is the party’s leader.
🔸The National Citizen Party (NCP), whose leaders led the "July Revolution" that deposed Hasina's government, is also a part of the alliance. It is contesting 30 seats.
The remaining seats are allocated to other coalition partners.
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