1 / 10Voters: Nearly 128 million registered voters will choose Bangladesh’s next government on 12 February 2026. With about 40% of the population under 30, young voters are expected to play a decisive role. (Image: Reuters)
2 / 10Overseas voters: For the first time, 300,000 expatriates have registered for postal voting. The diaspora is estimated at around 15 million people. The “No Vote” option has also been reintroduced in uncontested seats. (Image: Reuters)
3 / 10Seats: Voters will elect representatives to 300 general seats through direct elections, along with 50 reserved seats for women that will be allocated proportionally. A total of 1,981 candidates are contesting. (Image: Reuters)
4 / 10Women candidates: Of the 1,981 candidates, 78 are women, while 30 political parties have fielded only male candidates. Women make up less than 4% of all contestants and are standing in 67 constituencies. Although this is the highest number of women in a competitive election, the gender gap remains wide. (Image: Reuters)
5 / 10Polling day: Voting will take place on 12 February from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. Campaigning ends on 10 February at 4:30 pm, followed by a mandatory 48-hour silence period. Vote counting will begin the same day. (Image: Reuters)
6 / 10Security personnel: Authorities have deployed 92,500 military personnel — the largest deployment since 1971. The European Union has sent a 150-member observer mission, and India has also been invited to observe the polls. (Image: Reuters)
7 / 10Two ballots, one election: For the first time, voters will cast two ballots — one for parliamentary elections under the First-Past-The-Post system and another for a referendum on the “July Charter” constitutional reforms. (Image: AP)
8 / 10Key parties – BNP: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is contesting 292 of the 300 seats. Led by Tarique Rahman (60), the party has promised financial aid for poor families, an anti-corruption drive and efforts to attract foreign investment. According to Reuters, opinion polls suggest the BNP holds an edge. (Image: Reuters)
9 / 10Key parties – Jamaat bloc: The Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance is contesting 224 seats under Jamaat and 30 seats under the National Citizen Party, with the remaining seats shared among allies. According to PTI, if the alliance wins, Shafiqur Rahman could become prime minister. (Image: Reuters)
10 / 10Top voter concerns: Inflation, which stood at 8.58% in January, is among the main concerns for voters. Other key issues include corruption, rising prices, economic recovery and job creation for young people. According to Reuters, Bangladesh ranked 151st on the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index. (Image: Reuters)
