"Bangladeshis voted Thursday in its first election since a deadly 2024 uprising, as parties crushed under Sheikh Hasina's rule return to the fray with a powerful political heir facing an Islamist led coalition. Queues stretched outside polling stations in the capital Dhaka as voting in the hugely anticipated election opened in the South Asian nation of 170 million people. More than 300,000 soldiers and police are deployed countrywide, with UN experts warning ahead of voting of "growing intolerance, threats and attacks","
""I voted in 1991 and today after many years, I cast my vote here," said Nur Alam Shamim, 50, who was first vote at the New Model Degree College in Dhaka-10 constituency. Shithi Goswami, 21, a student at Dhaka City College, lined up early to vote to avoid the crowds. "This was my first vote and I hope after everything we went through the last few years, now is the time for something positive," she said."
"Leading prime ministerial hopeful Tarique Rahman, 60, is confident his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) can regain power -- but he faces a stiff challenge from the Muslim-majority country's largest Islamist party, Jamaat e Islami. Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman, 67, has mounted a disciplined grassroots campaign, and, if victorious, the former political prisoner could lead the first Islamist led government in constitutionally secular Bangladesh. Opinion polls vary widely, though most give the BNP the lead -- with some suggesting a knife?edge race."
Bangladesh conducted a national parliamentary election with long queues in Dhaka and widespread voter turnout across the 170 million‑person country. Security forces of more than 300,000 soldiers and police were deployed nationwide while UN experts warned of growing intolerance, threats, attacks and a surge of disinformation targeting especially young first‑time voters. Some voters cast first or long‑awaited ballots amid hopes for positive change. Main contenders include BNP leader Tarique Rahman and Jamaat e Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman, with polls varying and many suggesting a close, possibly knife‑edge, contest that could reshape secular governance.
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