Explainer: Why the world is watching Bangladesh’s 2026 election and referendum

Bangladesh heads to the polls on February 12, 2026, in its first national election since Sheikh Hasina’s 2024 ouster, marking the end of an 18‑month transition under Muhammad Yunus.

Nearly 127 million voters will choose a new government and decide on the July Charter, a sweeping set of constitutional reforms. With the Awami League banned, the contest is led by the BNP and a Jamaat‑NCP bloc, in an election that could redefine Bangladesh’s political future.