Bangladesh Announces February 2026 Elections Following Political Upheaval

Bangladesh's electoral commission has officially announced that the country will hold parliamentary elections on February 12, 2026. This information was delivered via a televised address by AMM Nasir Uddin, the chief election commissioner.

The electoral process will begin with candidate nominations due by December 29, followed by a final withdrawal deadline set for January 20. The election will encompass all 300 parliamentary constituencies across Bangladesh, with over 127.6 million eligible voters, including Bangladeshis residing overseas who can participate through postal ballots.

This election represents a crucial step toward reinstating a democratically elected government with legitimate political authority. Currently, Bangladesh operates under an unelected interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus, who serves as Chief Advisor.

Initially, Yunus had proposed conducting elections in April 2026, but internal and international pressure prompted him to advance the timeline to February 2026. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) had advocated for elections as early as December, and following discussions with BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, the February date was confirmed.

Yunus has also revealed plans to hold a referendum on the implementation of the July national charter simultaneously with the election, a decision that has faced opposition from the BNP. The party, which was the main opposition during Sheikh Hasina's administration, is widely considered a leading contender in the upcoming electoral contest.

The National Citizen Party (NCP), which emerged from the August 2024 protests in Dhaka, will also participate in the elections. The NCP has established a political alliance with the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, an organization with roots in the right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami party.

Since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's forced departure following violent demonstrations in August 2024—when protesters stormed her official residence, leading to looting and destruction—there have been increasing calls for a return to democratically elected leadership.

Concerns about electoral fairness have arisen as Hasina's Awami League has been prohibited from participating in the election, despite maintaining significant public support throughout the country.