NEW DELHI: Bangladesh will hold its next national parliamentary election on February 12, 2026, the country’s Election Commission announced recently. 

The announcement marks a significant milestone in Bangladesh’s political landscape, coming 18 months after a mass student-led uprising last year toppled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and brought an interim government to power. 

The election will be the first since Sheikh Hasina’s government fell amid widespread protests in August 2024. Hasina, now in exile in India, and her Awami League party remain banned from participating in the vote, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from the party’s leadership. The Awami League has rejected the election schedule, calling for a neutral caretaker government and the removal of restrictions against it to ensure a truly democratic contest. 

Meanwhile, other major parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami, have welcomed the announcement, viewing the fixed date as an opportunity to restore electoral normalcy after a prolonged period of political uncertainty. 

This election represents a pivotal moment for Bangladesh’s democracy as the nation seeks to move past recent turmoil. With reforms at the forefront and heightened political tensions, the outcome will shape the country’s governance and policy directions for the coming years.