Bangladesh will hold its parliamentary election on February 12, officials confirmed, marking the country’s first national vote since last year’s student-led uprising that removed former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin announced the date in a televised address and said a national referendum on political reforms will also take place on the same day.
The announcement comes as the interim administration, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, struggles to stabilize the political environment. The caretaker government has faced renewed demonstrations over delays in promised political and institutional reforms following Hasina’s removal from power.
Notably, Hasina’s party remains excluded from the ballot, and party leaders have warned that unrest could escalate as the election campaign progresses. Yunus described the election schedule as a turning point, saying Bangladesh had advanced toward reclaiming democratic norms. “Bangladesh’s democratic journey has crossed an important milestone, strengthening the new path the nation has taken after the historic mass uprising,” he said.
The transitional turbulence deepened after President Mohammed Shahabuddin, appointed during Hasina’s tenure, announced his intention to resign once voting concludes. He told Reuters that he felt humiliated under the Yunus government and would step aside midway through his term.
Voters are now focused on restoring democratic rule, reviving the vital garment-export sector, and recalibrating relations with India, which soured after Hasina fled to the neighboring country during the political upheaval. Observers say the upcoming polls will test Bangladesh’s capacity to consolidate democracy amid lingering political tensions and economic challenges.
<a href=”http://republicpolicy.com”>Follow republicpolicy.com</a>
