All eyes on Bangladesh as voting underway for 13th parliamentary elections | Top developments

Bangladesh went to polls on Wednesday

Voting is underway across Bangladesh in the 13th parliamentary elections, widely seen as a defining moment for the country since the ousting of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Millions of voters are casting their ballots amid unprecedented security measures and high political stakes.

Here are the top developments from today’s elections:

1. Historic first election without Hasina or Awami League

For the first time in over 15 years, the election is being held without Sheikh Hasina or her Awami League party on the ballot. Hasina’s government fell in 2024 following mass protests, and she has been living in exile in India. The current polls mark Bangladesh’s first test of a new political landscape.

2. Heavy security and advanced monitoring

Authorities have deployed nearly 9.58 lakh security personnel nationwide to ensure smooth polling. Over 90 per cent of the 42,779 polling centres are under CCTV surveillance. Drones and body-worn cameras are being used for the first time to monitor voting and assist law enforcement if required.

3. Main contest between BNP and Jamaat-led alliance

The election is shaping up as a close battle between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a Jamaat-e-Islami-led coalition. Analysts say the results could significantly reshape the country’s political environment.

4. Tarique Rahman emerges as key figure

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, has returned to the political scene after years in exile. He is seen as a frontrunner in the election and has cast his vote at the Gulshan Model School and College in Dhaka, drawing widespread attention from voters and media alike.

5. Jamaat-e-Islami chief calls it a “turning point”

After casting his vote, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman described the election as a “turning point” for the country. He said, “For me and for Bangladesh, yes, it is a turning point, and we are striving for that, Inshallah. People’s demands change, their aspirations change, and we also deserve change. Alhamdulillah, this vote is meaningful for me because I have been able to cast my ballot after being deprived in three consecutive elections. Not only me, but the people of Bangladesh as well. At that time, I was in prison. Thank you.”