Dhaka: Bangladesh is preparing for a national election next month in a deeply divided political climate, as former prime minister Sheikh Hasina has strongly criticised the vote from exile in India.
The election is scheduled for February 12 and will be the country’s first since Hasina was removed from power after mass protests in 2024. The polls are being organised by an interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus.
In a recorded message, Hasina said the election would not be fair or inclusive because her party, the Awami League, has been barred from taking part. She warned that excluding millions of her supporters could increase anger and instability in the country. She also accused the interim leadership of taking power without public support and called for international attention to the situation in Bangladesh.
Campaigning has already begun across the country. Political parties are holding rallies and using social media platforms such as Facebook, TikTok and YouTube to reach voters, especially young people. Security has been tightened in many areas to prevent unrest during the campaign period.
With the Awami League out of the race, the main contest is expected to involve the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by Tarique Rahman, and several smaller parties and new political groups. Islamist party Jamaat e Islami and the youth based National Citizen Party are also contesting the election.
Many analysts say this election is a major test for Bangladesh’s democracy. They note that the absence of the country’s most powerful party changes the political balance and raises questions about how representative the results will be.
International observers are closely watching the process. Human rights groups and foreign governments have urged the authorities to ensure a peaceful and transparent vote.
As election day approaches, public debate continues over whether the polls can bring stability or whether they will deepen political divisions in a country that has seen years of rivalry between major political forces.