Bangladesh kicks off election campaign ahead of Feb 12 vote, first since Sheikh Hasina’s ouster

Campaigning began Thursday across Bangladesh for the nation’s first general elections since the 2024 uprising that toppled longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Rallies took place in the capital Dhaka and other cities as political parties prepared for the February 12 vote, which will shape the country’s future democratic direction and include a referendum on broad constitutional reforms known as the July National Charter.

The interim government, led by Muhammad Yunus, insists the elections will be free, fair and peaceful. Voters are expected to choose 350 members of parliament while considering reforms aimed at limiting authoritarian governance, increasing presidential authority, imposing term limits, and strengthening anti‑corruption measures. Supporters describe the referendum as essential to entrenching checks and balances; critics argue the reforms, and the process by which they are being promoted, lack inclusivity and risk deepening political fractures.

The campaign is unfolding amid significant controversy. Yunus’s administration banned the Awami League , the former ruling party of ousted leader Sheikh Hasina, from participating. The exclusion of the country’s historically dominant party has alarmed some international observers and opposition figures, who argue that elections without the Awami League are neither fully representative nor genuinely competitive.

With the Awami League sidelined, a 10‑party alliance led by the Islamist Jamaat‑e‑Islami and the newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP) created by student leaders of the uprising, has emerged as a key contender. Tarique Rahman, chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and son of the late former prime minister Khaleda Zia, returned from 17 years in exile and is leading a vigorous nationwide campaign, starting with an address in the northwestern city of Sylhet.

The rising influence of Jamaat‑e‑Islami in Bangladesh’s elections has attracted international attention. U.S. diplomats have said they want “to be friends” with the party and are open to engaging with it, noting that Jamaat could perform strongly in the February 12 vote. They emphasized that they do not believe the party will try to impose Islamic law and suggested that the U.S. could respond if any policies harmed workers or women. At the same time, the U.S. stressed that it does not support any party over another and will work with whichever government is elected. This new approach marks a shift in U.S. policy and could create tension with India , which remains wary of Jamaat‑e‑Islami.

Tensions with India have surfaced in other ways. New Delhi recently advised the families and dependents of its diplomats in Bangladesh to return to India due to security concerns ahead of the election period. Although Indian missions in Dhaka, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi and Sylhet will remain fully operational, the move underscores apprehension about rising unrest and extremist activity. Critics argue the “non‑family” posting designation exaggerates instability, but Indian officials say protection of personnel remains a priority.

Concerns extend beyond geopolitics into domestic security. Political violence and attacks on journalists have heightened alarm among civil society and rights groups. Journalists have demanded protection as incidents of mob violence and confrontations with police have risen. The interim government has sought to frame many incidents as criminal law‑and‑order issues rather than communal or political violence, a characterization that some human rights observers question.