India keeping close eye on Bangladesh Elections as political violence wreaks havoc on Dhaka streets

Dhaka: The so-called revolution in Bangladesh began in July/August 2024. Now, 18 months later, on Thursday, February 12, Bangladesh is set to elect a new leadership. This is a turning point in the history of India's neighboring country, which will determine Bangladesh's future. This election will determine whether Dhaka will be ruled by liberal democratic forces or whether fundamentalist forces will take over. It is noteworthy that elections were held in Bangladesh in April 2024. Now, in less than two years, the country is once again awaiting a new government.

The Bangladesh elections as extra significance for India. For India, the violence in Bangladesh ahead of the upcoming polls reveal a dramatic shift from the atmosphere during the 2024 elections. 

What is the situation in Bangladesh?

The last 18 months have not been easy for Bangladesh. During these 18 months, Bangladesh has been plagued by violence, arson, looting, and chaos. In August 2024, a student-led revolution overthrew Sheikh Hasina's 15-year-old government. Hasina fled to India as soon as the government collapsed. During this period, more than 1,400 people died in violence in Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, an interim government headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was formed in Bangladesh. Bangladesh's opposition parties hailed it as "second independence." However, 18 months later, in February 2026, the situation remains complex. Political violence, mob lynchings, and the rise of religious extremism have plunged Bangladesh into a situation where the country's future appears bleak. The violence in Bangladesh has severely damaged Hindus politically, socially, and economically.

According to minority organizations like the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, communal violence resulted in the deaths of 61 Hindus and a total of over 2,000 attacks from August 2024 to 2025. However, the actual figures may be higher.

Following the fall of the Hasina government, the interim government of Bangladesh banned the Awami League. Its supporters were attacked. Hundreds died in mob violence in 2025. Thousands were arrested in Operation Devil Hunt against the Awami League. Religious extremists are attacking women's rights and minorities.

What is the ABC of Bangladesh elections?

The Election Commission has made elaborate security arrangements. Nearly 1 million security personnel have been deployed to ensure a peaceful election, the largest ever in the country's electoral history. The 13th parliamentary election is being held alongside a referendum on a difficult 84-point reform package. The contest is primarily between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its former ally, the Jamaat-e-Islami.

Voting began simultaneously in Bangladesh's 299 parliamentary constituencies on Thursday at 7:30 a.m. and will continue until 4:30 p.m. Voting has been canceled in one constituency due to the death of a candidate. Vote counting will begin as soon as voting ends.

A total of 1,755 candidates from 50 political parties and 273 independent candidates are contesting the election. The BNP has fielded the highest number of candidates, 291. Eighty-three are women.

Approximately 127 million voters in Bangladesh will cast their votes in this election. Voting will be done using paper ballots, despite Bangladesh's population of 170 million. 500 foreign observers are coming to Bangladesh to monitor the elections.

What did the police say?

Bangladesh's Inspector General of Police, Baharul Alam, stated that 24,000 polling centers out of approximately 43,000 polling centers across the country are considered "high" or "moderate" risk.

The police said they had provided a list of risky polling centers to the Election Commission, which revealed that 1,614 of Dhaka's 2,131 polling centers were considered "risky." However, the army stated that they had identified two centers in Dhaka city as "risky."

The Election Commission has stated that for the first time, drones and body-worn cameras are being used for election security.

Approximately 25,000 body-worn cameras will be installed in the field. Some are IP-based for live feeds, while others will record locally. Furthermore, CCTV cameras have already been installed in more than 90% of polling stations for continuous monitoring. He stated that voting will take place at a total of 42,659 polling stations in Bangladesh.

For the first time in Bangladesh's 13th parliamentary election, approximately 800,000 expatriate Bangladeshis will be able to vote. These are those who live outside the country and have registered with the Election Commission.

How many votes for each voter?

This time in Bangladesh, every voter will have two votes. The first vote is for the election, and the second vote is for the constitutional referendum. Each voter will cast two votes. This is the first time that two separate elections are being held on the same day. Votes for the parliamentary elections will be cast on white ballot paper. The referendum will be held on pink ballot papers. The referendum is a package of reforms enacted following the student movement, where voters must choose between "yes" and "no."

What about the Bangladesh Parliament?

The Bangladesh Parliament consists of 350 MPs. Of these, 300 are directly elected from single-member constituencies, while 50 seats are reserved for women. Elections are held under the first-past-the-post system, and each parliamentary term is five years.

This is Bangladesh's first election without former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for decades. With Sheikh Hasina's absence, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party is considered the frontrunner. The BNP is currently led by Tarique Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. The BNP has nominated Tarique Rahman as its PM candidate. Rahman returned to Bangladesh in December after 17 years in exile and has promised to rebuild democratic institutions, restore the rule of law, and revive the economy.

Challenging the BNP is a large coalition of 11 parties led by the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, which is seeking to expand its influence in national politics. Jamaat-e-Islami was banned during Hasina's rule but has grown in influence since her ouster. The coalition also includes the newly formed National Citizens Party, formed by leaders of the 2024 uprising.