However, the political landscape has now shifted dramatically. Hasina’s Awami League is banned, and campaign spaces are dominated by rival parties and independent candidates, as per Reuters.
Opposition contest and Gen Z influenceThe Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is widely viewed as the frontrunner in the February 12 parliamentary election, contesting 292 of the 300 seats.
BNP chief Tarique Rahman told Reuters his party was confident of winning “enough to form a government”.
However, Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance is mounting a strong challenge. A newly formed party driven by Gen Z activists under 30 has aligned with Jamaat after struggling to convert its street-level anti-Hasina protests into electoral support.
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A decisive result is crucial to stabilise the country of 175 million after months of unrest that disrupted key industries, including the garments sector, analysts said.
“Opinion polls suggest the BNP has an edge, but we must remember that a significant portion of voters are still undecided,” Parvez Karim Abbasi of Dhaka’s Centre for Governance Studies told Reuters.
“Several factors will shape the outcome, including how Generation Z – which makes up about a quarter of the electorate – votes, as their choices will carry considerable weight,” he added.
Regional implications and voter concerns
The election outcome could reshape Bangladesh’s relations with regional powers China and India. Beijing’s influence has grown since Hasina, regarded as close to New Delhi, fled to India after her removal.
While some analysts see the BNP as relatively aligned with India, a Jamaat-led government could move closer to Pakistan. Jamaat has said it is not inclined towards any country, while Rahman stated his party would maintain ties with nations that “offers what is suitable for my people and my country,” as per Reuters.
Bangladesh continues to face high inflation, weak reserves and slowing investment, prompting it to seek major financial support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank since 2022.
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A survey by Dhaka-based think tanks found corruption to be the top concern among the 128 million voters, followed by inflation.
“Voters report high intention to participate, prioritise corruption and economic concerns over religious or symbolic issues, and express clear expectations for leaders who demonstrate care, competence and accountability,” the survey said, as per Reuters.
