"With the longdominant Awami League (AL) barred from participating, an Islamist alliance, strengthened by the studentled National Citizen Party (NCP), has emerged as a powerful contender. For the first time since independence in 1971, Islamist forces appear poised for their strongest electoral showing, reshaping expectations about the Muslim-majority nation's political future. The dramatic shift follows the July 2024 studentled uprising that ended then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's long, iron-fisted rule."
"In November, Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal convicted Hasina of obstructing justice, ordering killings and failing to prevent punitive violence. Hasina is currently in exile in neighboring India. With the AL banned pending trial, its iconic election symbol the boat will be absent from the ballot for the first time in the nation's history. In this political vacuum, JamaateIslami (JI), long marginalized due to its opposition to Bangladesh's 1971 war of independence, has sought to consolidate the Islamist vote."
Bangladesh will hold elections on February 12 with the long-dominant Awami League barred from participation following trials and the exile of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. An Islamist coalition led by Jamaat-e-Islami and strengthened by the student-led National Citizen Party has consolidated support and appears poised for its strongest electoral performance since independence. The AL's iconic election symbol, the boat, will be absent from ballots for the first time. A recent survey by the International Institute of Law and Diplomacy shows the BNP-led alliance at 44.1% and Jamaat's bloc at 43.9%, while other polls give the BNP a larger seat lead. Political commentators describe a national shift from centre-left toward centre-right or further right.
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