Polls Close In Bangladesh’s First Election Since Gen Z Uprising
Politics Updated: 12 February 2026 15:28 EAT
Polls Close in Bangladesh With Elections Largely Peaceful
Polling stations across Bangladesh closed Thursday evening, marking the end of voting in the country’s first general election since a youth-led uprising forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power.
The vote is widely regarded as a defining moment for the South Asian nation, as millions of citizens seek to restore democratic governance after 15 years of increasingly authoritarian rule under Hasina.
Election officials said ballots were cast across tens of thousands of polling centres nationwide, with security heightened to prevent unrest and ensure a smooth process.
More than 120 million registered voters were eligible to participate, including a large bloc of young people who played a central role in last year’s protests that reshaped the political landscape.
The 2024 demonstrations, driven largely by Generation Z activists, erupted over allegations of electoral manipulation, economic hardship and shrinking civic freedoms, culminating in Hasina’s departure and the installation of an interim administration.
Thursday’s vote is the first national poll organized under that caretaker leadership, which pledged sweeping reforms aimed at strengthening electoral integrity and rebuilding public trust in state institutions.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party emerged as a leading contender in the race, campaigning on promises to revive democratic institutions, uphold civil liberties and stabilize the economy.
The Awami League, the party long led by Hasina, did not participate in the election, underscoring the profound shift in the country’s political order since the uprising.
Alongside parliamentary voting, citizens also took part in a constitutional referendum designed to entrench safeguards such as judicial independence and neutral oversight of future elections.
Observers reported steady turnout throughout the day, particularly in urban centres and university towns where youth engagement remained visibly strong.
International monitors and domestic civil society groups described the voting process as largely peaceful, though security forces maintained a visible presence in key areas.
Preliminary counting began immediately after polls closed, with official results expected to be announced in stages once verification procedures are completed.
As ballot counting continues, many Bangladeshis are expressing cautious optimism that the election will mark a decisive break from years of political turmoil and set the country on a renewed democratic path.
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FELIX MAKONA
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