Bangladesh polls LIVE: Country votes in landmark election after Gen Z revolution
The Hindu
Follow The Hindu for updates on elections in Bangladesh on Thursday, February 12, 2026.
Bangladesh heads to the polls on Thursday (February 12, 2026), marking a return to democracy after the 2024 ouster of long-time Premier Sheikh Hasina in a Gen Z-driven uprising, in an election seen as pivotal for the country’s stability.
The contest pits two coalitions led by former allies, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, with opinion polls giving an edge to the BNP.
Hasina’s Awami League is banned, and she remains in self-imposed exile in long-term ally India, opening the window for China to expand its influence in Bangladesh as Dhaka’s ties with New Delhi deteriorate.
Polling opens at 7:30 a.m. (0230 GMT) and closes at 4:30 p.m. Counting will begin soon after, with early trends expected around midnight and results likely to be clear by Friday (February 13, 2026) morning, Election Commission officials said.
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Follow The Hindu for updates on elections in Bangladesh on Thursday, February 12, 2026.
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