Excitement grips Bangladesh as parliamentary elections unfold Thursday, with 299 constituencies voting from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM at 42,779 sites. Post-polling, results will swiftly outline the next government’s structure.
Eighteen months after protests ended Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year dominance, this vote integrates a national referendum on 84 constitutional reforms. A staggering 127 million voters, 44% aged 18-37, could tip the scales toward progressive change.
Insights from The Dhaka Tribune project high turnout among 127.7 million eligibles, where women dominate at 62.88 million—including 2.7 million debutantes exceeding male first-timers by a wide margin. However, only 83 female hopefuls contest, representing 4% of candidates.
Unprecedented security blankets the process: 958,000 officers patrol nationwide, intensified in high-risk zones, supported by 100,000+ army personnel for law enforcement.
Awami League’s exclusion elevates BNP and its Jamaat-e-Islami partners. Leading the pack is Tarique Rahman, back after 17 years, wooing voters with promises of jobs, security, and liberty.
From dawn queues to evening tallies, this election embodies hope and caution. Reforms, demographics, and security converge, setting the stage for Bangladesh’s political renaissance.