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Bangladesh Election 2026 Voting Live Updates: BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami emerge as main contenders in Awami League’s absence.
Vehicles pass by election campaign banners ahead of the national election, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. (IMAGE: REUTERS)
Bangladesh General Election 2026 Voting Live Updates: Bangladesh goes to the polls on Thursday for its 13th parliamentary elections, marking a turning point in the country’s political journey. The vote comes 18 months after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule collapsed following massive student-led protests in July 2024, leading to the formation of an interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. In an unprecedented move, Hasina’s Awami League has been disbanded and barred from contesting, making this the first national election in decades without its participation.
The contest is now primarily between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its former ally Jamaat-e-Islami, which is leading an 11-party coalition. Opinion polls suggest BNP as the frontrunner, with its leader Tarique Rahman seeking a political comeback after years in exile. Nearly 127 million voters are eligible to cast ballots across 299 constituencies, while a parallel referendum on an 84-point reform charter will also be held.
Security is tight, with almost one million personnel deployed and more than half of polling centres marked as risk-prone. For the first time, expatriate Bangladeshis are voting through an IT-based postal ballot system. Authorities say drones, body cameras and CCTV networks will monitor voting. Amid hopes of change and concerns over stability, the election is being closely watched as a defining moment for Bangladesh’s democratic future.
Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: Results Expected Without Delay, Says EC
Bangladesh Election 2026 Voting Live Updates: Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin has assured that vote counting will be swift and transparent, with results expected by Friday. “The voting atmosphere is very good and festive,” he said, urging parties to accept victory and defeat gracefully. Over 42,000 polling stations are operating across the country, and international observers have praised logistical preparations. The polls, coupled with the national referendum, are being described as a decisive step toward restoring full civilian rule.
Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: Expatriates Vote For First Time
Bangladesh Election 2026 Voting Live Updates: In a historic first, nearly 800,000 Bangladeshi expatriates have cast their votes using an IT-enabled postal ballot system. Election officials confirmed more than half a million overseas ballots had been received by Wednesday. The initiative is part of broader electoral reforms introduced by the Yunus-led interim government. Observers from 45 countries and international organisations are monitoring the process to ensure transparency and fairness.
Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: BNP Emerges As Frontrunner In Historic Vote
Bangladesh Election 2026 Voting Live Updates: With the Awami League barred from contesting, the main battle is between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami. BNP has fielded 291 candidates, the highest among all parties. Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman said his party would work for “mutually beneficial” relations with India if voted to power. Young voters in Dhaka say they feel a sense of optimism, describing the polls as the first truly open election in years following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government.
Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: Massive Security Deployment Across Country
Bangladesh Election 2026 Voting Live Updates: Authorities have rolled out the largest-ever security operation in Bangladesh’s electoral history, deploying nearly 900,000 law enforcement personnel nationwide. Armoured Personnel Carriers and Rapid Action Teams have been stationed in sensitive areas, while drones and body-worn cameras are being used for the first time. Election officials say more than 24,000 polling centres are classified as high or moderate risk. The Election Commission has assured voters that “extensive coordination” is in place to ensure a peaceful and credible vote.
Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: Nation Set For Crucial Vote Today
Bangladesh Election 2026 Voting Live Updates: Bangladesh is gearing up for its 13th parliamentary elections, scheduled to be held on Thursday, with final preparations under way across the country. Nearly 127 million eligible voters are expected to cast ballots in 299 constituencies, while voting in one seat has been cancelled due to the death of a candidate. The polls will be conducted alongside a nationwide referendum on an 84-point reform package proposed by the interim government. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has urged citizens to exercise their franchise “consciously and peacefully,” describing the upcoming vote as a key step in Bangladesh’s democratic transition.
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