Bangladesh 13th Parliamentary Election (February 2026)

The protest movement in Bangladesh, which began in July 2024, was triggered by the announcement of a policy allocating quotas in public sector jobs for the children of individuals who served during the 1971 Independence War. Following this decision, widespread demonstrations led by students were organized and quickly spread across the country. The protests were declared to have ended after the Supreme Court reduced the quota percentages in late July.

However, violent incidents during the demonstrations led the protest movement into a new phase. After the Jamaat-e-Islami Party and its student wing were banned for being held responsible for the violence, protests intensified once again. At this stage, demonstrators returned to the streets demanding “justice” for those who lost their lives during the protests.

It was reported that hundreds of people lost their lives and thousands were detained in the violent incidents that occurred nationwide. As the unrest continued to escalate, then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left her official residence and flew to India by military helicopter. It was noted that protesters stormed the Prime Minister’s official residence. With the de facto collapse of political authority, a governance vacuum emerged in the country.

Establishment of the Interim Government and Judicial Process

On 8 August 2024, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus took the oath of office as head of the interim government. The interim government was established to manage the political crisis following the protests and to guide the country toward elections. With Yunus assuming office, executive authority began to be exercised by a temporary administrative structure.

Following the formation of the interim government, judicial investigations into the protest movement were initiated. The Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal sentenced Sheikh Hasina to death on 17 November on the grounds of direct responsibility for the loss of life during the protests, under the category of “crimes against humanity.” This ruling defined the legal dimension of the protest movement within the framework of international crimes.

During this period, the executive branch worked on reform preparations and constitutional amendments. The interim government’s term was set at 18 months, with the primary objective being the organization of elections.

13th Parliamentary Elections and Referendum Announcement (12 February 2026)

On 12 February 2026, voting commenced in Bangladesh for both the 13th Parliamentary elections and a referendum on the reform package proposed by the interim government. According to the official Bangladeshi news agency Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS), voting began at 07:30 local time. The election marked the first general election since the protests that began in July 2024.

According to Election Commission data, over 127 million registered voters were eligible to participate. A voter turnout of approximately 55 percent was anticipated. The elections served not only to determine parliamentary representation but also functioned as a referendum on the reform package drafted by the interim government.

Intensive security measures were implemented at polling centers across the country, including the capital Dhaka. Voters were reported to have formed long queues at polling stations, with disabled and elderly citizens also arriving at voting centers. The case of 80-year-old Zarina Begum, who was brought to a polling station by her family using a wheelchair to cast her vote, was recorded as an example of the social dimension of voter participation.

Political Dimension

The two strongest political parties in the elections were assessed to be the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Jamaat-e-Islami Party. It was reported that BNP leader Tarique Rahman and Jamaat-e-Islami Party leader Shafiqur Rahman cast their votes in Dhaka. This highlighted that political competition was shaped along two main axes.

Muhammad Yunus, serving as chief adviser to the interim government, made a statement after voting at Gulshan College in Dhaka. Yunus described election day as “the birth anniversary of a new Bangladesh” and emphasized the significance of the referendum. He stated that the previous era had been rejected and a new political process had begun.

The 18-month interim government led by Muhammad Yunus was expected to conclude with the elections. This marked the transfer of executive authority back to the newly elected parliament and a new government.

Military and Security Dimension

Intense clashes occurred between security forces and protesters during the July 2024 protests. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s departure from the country by military helicopter amid escalating violence revealed the logistical role of the armed forces during the crisis. This development was interpreted as evidence of executive vulnerability and the erosion of state authority.

During the 2026 elections, intensive security measures were implemented nationwide. Security forces were deployed at polling centers and additional precautions were taken to ensure electoral safety. These measures reflected institutional responses aimed at securing elections in a country with a history of protests.

The hundreds of deaths and thousands of detentions during the protest period demonstrated the harsh operation of internal security mechanisms. During the election process, security measures were applied to preserve public order and ensure the uninterrupted conduct of voting.

Technical and Institutional Dimension

The electoral process encompassed the simultaneous conduct of the 13th Parliamentary elections and the referendum. Voting commenced at 07:30 local time and was organized nationwide. The Election Commission established polling centers for over 127 million registered voters.

The referendum aimed to secure direct public approval of the reform package prepared by the interim government. This gave the electoral process a dual function: determining the legislative body and submitting reforms to popular vote. Thus, representative democracy and direct democratic mechanisms were applied simultaneously.

The organization of the electoral process was carried out as one of the final acts of the interim government. Polling security, voter registration systems, and turnout projections were publicly disclosed based on data provided by the Election Commission.

Conceptual and Legal Dimension

The July 2024 protests began as a movement against public sector quota policies but rapidly evolved into a broader social movement demanding political legitimacy and justice. The loss of life during the demonstrations was subject to judicial evaluation within the framework of state responsibility and crimes against humanity.

The death sentence imposed by the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal on Sheikh Hasina constituted a significant precedent for the application of international crime categories within domestic law. This ruling defined the protest movement not merely as a public order issue but as a matter falling within the scope of international criminal law.

The 2026 elections, by contrast, took shape as an institutional transition process aimed at ending the interim government’s tenure and restoring the constitutional order. The combined use of elections and referendum sought to reconstitute political legitimacy through popular vote.