Bangladesh votes in its first election since the 2024 Gen Z uprising that ousted Hasina

Voters across Bangladesh headed to polling stations Thursday in a landmark parliamentary election that many view as a crucial test for the nation’s democratic future following years of political upheaval.

After a quiet morning start, polling locations in Dhaka and throughout the country saw increasing crowds by midday. Voting will continue through Thursday, with results expected to be announced Friday.

The election represents Bangladesh’s first democratic exercise since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government collapsed earlier this year following weeks of mass demonstrations widely characterized as a “Generation Z uprising.” More than 127 million eligible voters are participating in this pivotal moment for the South Asian nation. Hasina, who fled the country during the protests, now lives in exile in India, and her Awami League party has been barred from participating in the election.

Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has emerged as a leading contender to form the next government. The son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Rahman returned to Bangladesh in December after spending 17 years in self-imposed exile in London. During his campaign, he promised to rebuild democratic institutions, restore rule of law, and revitalize Bangladesh’s struggling economy.

Challenging the BNP is an 11-party coalition led by Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh’s largest Islamist party. Banned under Hasina’s administration, the conservative religious group has gained significant traction since her removal. Its growing influence has sparked concerns, particularly among women and minority communities, that social freedoms could be restricted if they secure power. Bangladesh is predominantly Muslim, with approximately 8% of the population identifying as Hindu.

After casting his ballot, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman expressed optimism about the election. “It is a turning point,” he told The Associated Press. “People demand change. They desire change. We also desire the change.”

The election is taking place under an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, who has pledged to ensure a credible and transparent electoral process. To support this commitment, approximately 500 international observers and foreign journalists are present, including delegations from the European Union and the Commonwealth, an organization of which Bangladesh is a member.

Bangladesh’s Parliament consists of 350 seats, with 300 directly elected from single-member constituencies and 50 reserved for women. Lawmakers are chosen by plurality and serve five-year terms. The Election Commission recently postponed voting in one constituency following a candidate’s death.

This election follows a tumultuous period marked by mob violence, attacks on Hindu minorities and press freedoms, rising Islamist influence, and a general erosion of the rule of law. The outcome could significantly reshape Bangladesh’s domestic stability. Since gaining independence from Pakistan in 1971, the country’s political landscape has been dominated by entrenched parties, military interventions, and allegations of electoral manipulation.

Young voters, many of whom played a central role in the 2024 uprising that led to Hasina’s ouster, are expected to wield considerable influence in this election. Approximately 5 million first-time voters are eligible to participate.

“I think this is a very crucial election because this is the first time we can show our opinion with freedom,” said 28-year-old voter Ikram ul Haque, who noted that previous elections were far from fair. “We are celebrating the election. It is like a festival here. I hope Bangladesh will have exponential change.”

Beyond selecting new leadership, Thursday’s ballot also includes a referendum asking voters to endorse major reform proposals stemming from a national charter signed by major political parties last year. If approved by a majority, the newly elected Parliament would form a constitutional reform council tasked with implementing these changes within 180 working days of its first session.

The proposed reforms include establishing new constitutional bodies and transforming Parliament from a unicameral legislature to a bicameral one with an upper house empowered to amend the constitution by majority vote.

Both the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami signed the document with some modifications after initially expressing reservations. Hasina’s Awami League party and some of its former allies were excluded from these discussions. Critics have noted that the referendum has been structured in a way that limits the options presented to voters.

As the polls close and the nation awaits results, Bangladesh stands at a critical crossroads, with the outcome likely to determine whether the country can establish a more stable democratic foundation after years of political turmoil.