Bangladesh Votes in First Election After Gen Z Uprising

Bangladesh went to the polls on Thursday in its first national election since a youth-led uprising forced the exit of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024, ending more than a decade of uninterrupted rule by her party.

Polling stations opened early under heavy security as voters queued across cities and rural districts. Election officials said more than 120 million people were eligible to vote, making it one of the largest elections in the country’s history.

The vote is widely seen as a test of whether Bangladesh can restore competitive politics after years of restrictions on opposition activity.

• Bangladesh votes in first election since Gen-Z uprising ousted Sheikh Hasina
• Bangladesh Nationalist Party seen as frontrunner in post-uprising election
• Voters back reforms as Bangladesh tests return to competitive politics

The main contest is between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and an alliance of 11 parties led by Jamaat-e-Islami. The BNP, campaigning on economic management, governance reforms and civil liberties, is viewed by analysts as the frontrunner. Its leader, Tarique Rahman, has promised to stabilise prices, attract investment and rebuild state institutions weakened by years of political centralisation.

The ruling Awami League remains barred from contesting the election following the 2024 protests, which were driven largely by students and young professionals demanding jobs, accountability and fair elections. Many first-time voters said they were motivated by unemployment, rising living costs and concerns over freedom of expression.

Alongside the parliamentary vote for 300 seats, voters are also participating in a constitutional referendum proposing limits on executive power, judicial reforms and stronger safeguards for election oversight. Authorities say the changes are aimed at preventing a return to one-party dominance.

The election is also being closely watched abroad. Relations with India, where Hasina is now living in exile, have cooled, while China has signalled interest in expanding economic and strategic ties with Dhaka.

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Preliminary results are expected within 24 hours. The outcome will shape Bangladesh’s political direction after nearly two decades of polarised and contested rule.