Bangladesh Election 2026 LIVE: Voting Begins As Bangladesh Decides Its Future Post Sheikh Hasina

​The sun rose over Dhaka today with a sense of gravity that the country has not felt in decades. It is February 12, 2026, and Bangladesh is officially heading to the polls. This is not just another election day. It is the first time the nation is voting since the dramatic 2024 uprising that ended the 15-year rule of Sheikh Hasina. For many, this is the first day of a new chapter, a chance to define what a "New Bangladesh" actually looks like.

​Across the country, from the busy streets of Chittagong to the rural heartlands of Sylhet, millions of people began queuing early in the morning. The atmosphere is a mix of nervous energy and quiet hope. After eighteen months of an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, the power is finally returning to the hands of the people.

​The New Face of the Ballot Box

​Walking through a polling station today feels different. In previous years, the air was often thick with tension or the looming shadow of a pre-determined result. This morning, the lines are long, but the mood is noticeably different. There is a heavy security presence, with nearly one million personnel deployed across the nation to ensure things stay peaceful.

​What makes this election particularly historic is who is missing. For the first time in over a decade and a half, the Awami League is not on the ballot. Following the events of 2024, the party was barred from the polls, leaving a massive vacuum in the political landscape. This has turned the 2026 election into a fierce contest between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a surge of new and reorganized alliances, including the Jamaat-e-Islami and student-led political groups.

​A Double Choice for the People

​Voters today are not just picking their local Member of Parliament. In a unique move by the interim administration, citizens are also voting in a national referendum. This referendum is about a massive reform package that aims to fix the very systems that people felt were broken under the previous regime.

​The "July National Charter" is on the table, asking voters to approve changes like prime ministerial term limits and stronger independence for the judiciary. It is a complex day at the booths. Every voter receives two ballots: one for their representative and one for the future structure of their government. It is a heavy responsibility, especially for the millions of young people who are voting for the first time in a truly competitive environment.

​The Gen Z Factor

​If you look at the queues, you will see a lot of young faces. This has been dubbed the "Gen Z Election." The students who led the protests in 2024 are now the ones deciding who takes the wheel. For these voters, the old style of politics—one based on personality cults and dynastic loyalty—is no longer enough.

​They are looking for solutions to very modern problems. Inflation is high, jobs are scarce, and the cost of living has become a daily struggle for most families. The candidates who have performed best in the lead-up to today are those who moved away from fiery rhetoric and toward concrete plans for the economy. The youth aren't just looking for a leader; they are looking for a manager who can fix the broken machinery of the state.

​The Main Contenders and Their Promises

​The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by Tarique Rahman from abroad and supported by a massive grassroots network, is seen by many as the frontrunner. Their campaign has focused heavily on "restoring the rule of law" and fixing the economy. They have promised to be strict on corruption, which remains the number one concern for voters according to recent polls.

​On the other side, the 11-Party Alliance, which includes Jamaat-e-Islami and new groups formed by student leaders, is pushing a platform of "ethical governance." They are appealing to voters who want a complete break from the past and a move toward a more conservative but reform-minded administration.

​Then there is the National Citizen Party (NCP), the political wing of the student movement. While they are newer to the game, their influence is massive. They represent the "spirit of the uprising" and are keeping a close watch on the established parties to ensure that the promises of 2024 aren't forgotten once the results are announced.

​Security and Challenges on the Ground

​While the morning has been mostly peaceful, the day has not been without its hitches. In Sherpur-3, voting had to be cancelled following the unfortunate death of a candidate. There have also been reports of minor scuffles in some pockets of Dhaka and Khulna, with parties accusing each other of trying to influence voters at the last minute.

​The Election Commission has been under immense pressure to prove its neutrality. After years of elections that were widely criticized by international observers, the world is watching Bangladesh today. Foreign observers from the UN, the European Union, and neighboring countries are scattered across the country, monitoring the process. The Chief Election Commissioner has been on television throughout the morning, urging everyone to maintain "restraint and democratic behavior."

​What the Numbers Say

​There are roughly 127 million registered voters this year. This is a staggering number, and the turnout is expected to be high. People who sat out the last few elections because they felt their vote didn't matter are now showing up in droves.

​The logistics are massive:

• ​Over 42,000 polling stations are active.

• ​Nearly 2,000 candidates are fighting for 299 seats.

• ​The majority mark is 151 seats to form a government.

​Results aren't expected until tomorrow morning, February 13, but the counting will begin the moment the polls close at 4:30 PM today. It will be a long night for the candidates and an even longer one for the citizens waiting to see if their vision for the country matches the final tally.

​The Economic Shadow

​Beyond the politics, the real driver for most people at the booths is the economy. Bangladesh’s GDP growth has seen a slight recovery, but inflation remains a thorn in the side of every household. Staples like rice and oil have seen significant price hikes over the last year.

​Voters in rural areas are particularly focused on agricultural subsidies and fair prices for their crops. In the cities, the focus is on the garment industry—the backbone of the economy—and how the new government will handle international trade relations, especially with neighbors like India and China. The "post-Hasina" era needs to be one of stability if the country wants to keep its economic engine running.

​A Nation at a Crossroads

​As the afternoon progresses, the lines aren't getting any shorter. There is a palpable sense that people understand the weight of this moment. For fifteen years, the political direction of the country felt like a one-way street. Today, there are many paths visible, and no one is quite sure which one the nation will take.

​Whether it is a win for the established BNP or a surprise showing for the new alliances, the real winner today is meant to be the democratic process itself. If Bangladesh can pull off a free, fair, and peaceful election, it will be a signal to the rest of the world that the "Monsoon Revolution" of 2024 was not just a moment of anger, but a genuine foundation for a new type of governance.

​Looking Toward the Results

​As the sun begins to set on this historic day, the focus will shift from the polling booths to the counting centers. The interim government’s job is almost over. Muhammad Yunus has done what he was brought in to do: stabilize the ship and bring it to the port of an election. Now, it is up to the politicians and the people to see what happens when the ship starts moving again under a new captain.

​The results will likely show a very fragmented parliament, as no single party has the overwhelming dominance that was seen in the past. This might lead to a coalition government, which would be another first for the "new" Bangladesh. A coalition would require compromise and dialogue—two things that have been missing from the country’s political culture for a very long time.