Bangladesh Election 2026: Historic Polls Begin

Thursday morning saw the beginning of the general election in Bangladesh. Voting began in 299 of 300 parliamentary constituencies nationwide at 7:00 AM and will continue till 4:30 PM.

The number of votes will be announced shortly after voting ends. This will be the first national elections since Prime Minister Sheikh Haseena was ousted in August 2024 following massive protests.

Security around elections has been tightened, with 1 million security personnel deployed, as per the Election Commission.

Bangladesh Election 2026: How Many Are Contesting Their Vote

• In today's Bangladesh polls, nearly 1,755 candidates from 50 political parties and 273 independent candidates are taking part.
• The BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) leads the pack with 291 candidates, including 83 women.
• This is the first time 8 lakh Bangladeshis will cast their votes through an IT-based postal ballot system, according to their registration with the Election Commission.
• The 13th parliamentary elections are held alongside the referendum on an 84-point reform package that includes complex changes.
• According to EC data, 3.58 million voters were first-time voters.

BNP vs. Jamaat-e-Islami: Two Rivals Battle for Power in Bangladesh

Bangladesh elections today will witness the clash between the BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) and Jamat-e-Islami, in the absence of Hasina’s now-dispersed Awami League.

Last year, the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus disbanded the Awami League and prevented it from contesting the elections.

He has vowed a swift transfer of power to the newly elected government and has requested that political parties and candidates respect the democratic process today by staying calm and disciplined.

Yunus further added that, in addition to representatives from 45 nations, global organisations will also be present to monitor the fair conduct of the electoral polls.

Drones and Body Cams: Bangladesh Rolls Out Largest-Ever Election Security

• According to Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Madchud, nearly 9,00,000 law enforcement personnel are positioned to ensure security during elections.
• Authorities have stationed Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and Rapid Action Teams (RATs) in the capital’s main spots.
• This will be the first time drones and body-worn cameras are used in the Bangladesh electoral polls for security reasons.
• However, regarding security, there is a disagreement: the police red-flagged 1,614 centres in Dhaka as risky, while the army flagged only two, leaving the rest in safer zones.

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