Bangladesh Elections Shadowed by Rising Political Violence
Rising political violence, targeted killings, and street clashes are fueling fear ahead of Bangladesh’s February 12 parliamentary elections, raising concerns over security, voter safety, and the credibility of the first national vote since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government.
‘No Boat, No Vote’ Call Fuels Election Boycott Debate in Bangladesh
A senior leader of the Bangladesh Awami League has called on supporters to boycott the forthcoming national elections, declaring the polls “illegal” and asserting that the party’s traditional election symbol, the boat, will not be part of the voting process unless fundamental changes are made to the electoral framework.
No Non-Believing MP Can Exist in a Country with 80% Muslims
A speech given by a candidate nominated by Jamaat-e-Islami for the Barguna-2 constituency at an election rally has gone viral on social media. In the speech, he said, “In a country where 80 percent are Muslims, there can be no non-believing or indecent parliamentary representatives.” This remark has sparked intense discussion both locally and online.
Amnesty Warns Bangladesh Falling Short on Human Rights Ahead of 2026 Election
Amnesty International has called on political parties to place human rights reform at the core of their political agendas ahead of Bangladesh’s upcoming national election. In a 10-page report titled “Human Rights Priorities Ahead of National Election”, the organization urges all contesting political parties to take concrete steps to ensure the protection and promotion of human rights during the pre-election, election-period, and post-election phases.
Harsh Vardhan Shringla: Jamaat-e-Islami Can Only Gain Power Through Rigged Elections
Former Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh and current Rajya Sabha member Harsh Vardhan Shringla has stated that Jamaat-e-Islami can only come to power through biased and violent elections.
Bangladesh's National Election Sees Alarming Drop in Women's Participation!
Among the total candidates, only 81 are women, which accounts for just 4.08%. This figure has been identified as disappointing in terms of women’s participation in the national election.
Millionaires Dominate the Ballot: 45% Overall, 83% in BNP
The asset profiles of candidates in the 13th National Parliamentary Election indicate a deep structural crisis in Bangladesh’s electoral politics. According to an analysis by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB), the number of millionaire candidates in this election has reached 891, the highest in the country’s history.
Nearly Two Thousand Candidates to Contest 13th National Polls
A total of 1,967 candidates will be contesting the upcoming 13th national parliamentary election in 298 constituencies, following the conclusion of the nomination withdrawal period on Tuesday, according to the Election Commission (EC).
Sajeeb Wazed Joy Calls Awami League-Free Election a ‘Staged Drama’ in Al Jazeera Interview
In an interview with Al Jazeera journalist Srinivasan Jain in Washington DC, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of Bangladesh Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, shared his views on Bangladesh’s current political crisis, the July–August 2024 mass uprising, the role of the Awami League, the party’s ban, election boycotts, allegations of violence, and claims of corruption.
Experts Warn ‘Mobocracy’ Threatens Minorities
Bangladesh’s democratic foundations are increasingly under threat as mob violence and insecurity against minority communities rise, experts warned at a policy dialogue in Dhaka, raising concerns over the country’s political future ahead of the February 12 national election.