Bangladesh holds historic parliamentary elections after deadly unrest

Bangladesh Holds First Election Since 2024 Uprising

Voters in Bangladesh cast their ballots on Thursday in the country’s first election since the 2024 uprising that toppled longtime leader Sheikh Hasina. The election pits two main candidates: Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Shafiqur Rahman, leader of Jamaat-e-Islami.

According to the chief election commissioner, AMM Nasir Uddin, voter turnout has been strong, with nearly 127 million registered voters participating. The election is seen as pivotal for Bangladesh’s future as it seeks to establish a democratic course.

The two leading prime ministerial candidates are Tarique Rahman and Shafiqur Rahman. Rahman has edged ahead in polls with his anticorruption campaign, while Shafiqur Rahman aims to present his long-excluded Islamist party as a credible force for change.

Security measures were in place, with hundreds of thousands of personnel deployed on the streets. Voters cast their ballots in an optimistic mood, with many expressing hope for a democratic future.

The election is being held alongside a referendum on constitutional reforms, which include institutional reforms, electoral, policing, and constitutional changes designed to prevent autocracy. The caretaker government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, had put together the reforms after the student-led protests.

Experts predict that the “Yes” vote in the referendum will be strong, with many seeing it as a key aspect of the election’s success. However, the outcome of the election and whether the victor implements the reforms remain uncertain.

Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted in 2024, remains in hiding in India, while her Awami League party has been barred from the election. The election is seen as a crucial step towards establishing a stable democracy in Bangladesh.

Source: Al Jazeera