Bangladesh Election 2026 Begins: Yunus Calls It ‘Birthday Of New Bangladesh’ As BNP, Jamaat Leaders Cast Early Votes
Bangladesh began voting in its 13th parliamentary election on Thursday morning, with interim Chief Muhammad Yunus and the leaders of the country’s two major contending parties casting their ballots early in the day. The high-stakes poll, widely described as historic, is being conducted alongside a nationwide referendum on an 84-point reform package proposed by the interim administration.
Calling the election a turning point, Muhammad Yunus described the day as the “birthday of a new Bangladesh.” Speaking after casting his vote, he said the country had rejected its “nightmarish past” and now had the opportunity to rebuild its democratic future. Yunus emphasised that beyond voting for candidates, the referendum would play a crucial role in reshaping the political structure of the country.
The general election is the first since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024 following massive student-led protests. The Awami League, once the dominant political force in Bangladesh, has been disbanded and barred from contesting the current election.
Polling began at 7:30 am local time in 299 out of 300 constituencies and is scheduled to continue until 4:30 pm. The main electoral contest is between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, and Jamaat-e-Islami, which was once an ally of the BNP but is now its principal rival.
BNP chairman Tarique Rahman cast his vote at the Gulshan Model School and College centre in Dhaka. Describing the moment as significant, Rahman said that people had waited more than a decade for such an election. He pledged to prioritise law and order if elected, stating that ensuring security would be central to his party’s agenda.
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus cast his ballot in the 13th general election and referendum on the July National Charter at the Gulshan Model School and College centre in Dhaka at 10:25am on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/BRI6exEUFd
— Chief Adviser of the Government of Bangladesh (@ChiefAdviserGoB) February 12, 2026
Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman voted at Monipur Uchcha Vidyalaya and College and said his party would accept the results provided the election was conducted fairly. However, reports of alleged pre-poll irregularities surfaced overnight, including accusations of vote stuffing, voter bribery, and clashes between rival groups. Security forces, including the army and police, reportedly detained several activists in connection with these allegations.
In a late-night message before polling began, Shafiqur Rahman urged citizens to ignore rumours circulating on social media, describing them as attempts to create confusion. BNP leaders, however, indicated they had received troubling reports regarding electoral conduct.
According to Election Commission data, more than 127 million registered voters are eligible to cast ballots, including nearly 800,000 expatriates voting via a digital postal ballot system for the first time. First-time voters account for over three per cent of the electorate.
With 1,755 candidates from 50 political parties and over 270 independent candidates in the fray, the election is being seen as a defining moment for Bangladesh’s political direction. As voting continues, attention now turns to turnout patterns and whether the combined effect of the referendum and parliamentary race will mark a fundamental shift in the country’s democratic trajectory.