Campaign begins ahead of Bangladesh’s February general election

Thursday 22 January 2026 - 15:40

By: Sahili Aya

Campaign begins ahead of Bangladesh’s February general election

Campaigning has officially started in Bangladesh for the general election scheduled for February 12, under an interim government established following the 2024 uprising that led to the departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) launched its first election rally in Sylhet, in the northeast of the country, where prime minister candidate Tarique Rahman addressed supporters. Earlier this month, Rahman took over as chairman of the BNP, succeeding his late mother, Khaleda Zia, a former prime minister.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has stated that Rahman would become prime minister if the party wins the upcoming election. Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman is also conducting rallies in the capital, Dhaka.

The Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, will not participate in the elections, as the interim government has suspended the party’s registration over alleged crimes during the 2024 protests.

More than 127 million registered voters are expected to cast ballots for 350 parliamentary seats out of nearly 2,000 candidates. A simple majority requires 151 seats.

The interim government, headed by Muhammad Yunus, is overseeing the electoral process, which follows a nationwide uprising in which the United Nations reported about 1,400 fatalities. Hasina and the Awami League have rejected the election plan, labeling it illegal and pledging to oppose it.