Bangladesh election count begins after high turnout in first post-Hasina vote

Bangladesh election count begins after high turnout in first post-Hasina vote

DHAKA, Feb. 12 — Bangladesh began counting votes on Thursday after polls closed in a pivotal national election, the first since the 2024 Gen Z-led uprising that toppled long-time premier Sheikh Hasina, according to Reuters and Reuters.

Early trends suggested a tight race between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami alliance, with analysts saying a clear result is crucial for stability in the 175-million-strong nation, per Reuters.

Coalition race

The contest pits coalitions led by BNP chief Tarique Rahman and Jamaat leader Shafiqur Rahman, with 300 parliamentary seats at stake and 151 needed for a majority, according to Reuters and the Indian Express.

Hasina’s Awami League is barred from the ballot and she remains in exile in India; she called the election a farce and demanded a new vote under a neutral caretaker government, per Reuters.

Referendum and turnout

Alongside the election, voters cast ballots in a referendum on constitutional reforms, including a proposed neutral interim government during election periods and a two-term limit for the prime minister, according to Reuters.

Turnout was projected to exceed the 2024 level, with long lines and heavy security reported at polling stations, while local media estimated turnout near 48%, per Reuters and the Indian Express.

Post-uprising politics

The Jamaat-led alliance includes the youth-backed National Citizen Party, formed by student leaders from the 2024 uprising, highlighting a shift toward coalition-driven politics, according to Al Jazeera and the Indian Express.

Al Jazeera said counting began after polls closed, while Reuters reported voting in one constituency was postponed due to a candidate’s death and more than 2,000 candidates contested the election, per Al Jazeera and Reuters.

Economists and business leaders say a stable outcome is needed to restore confidence in Bangladesh’s key garment industry and broader investment climate after months of turmoil, according to Reuters.