Global Media Spotlight Bangladesh as Voters Head to the Polls in First National Election Since Hasina’s Fall

Bangladesh is voting today, Thursday, in its 13th national parliamentary election, with polling underway from 8am to 4:30pm local time. This is the country’s first national vote since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government on 5 August 2024. Although the Awami League is barred from participating, a total of 51 political parties large and small are contesting the election.

International media outlets are giving the vote exceptional attention, highlighting the high‑stakes contest between the BNP and Bangladesh Jamaat‑e‑Islami. Once allies, the two parties now face each other as principal rivals. Reports emphasize that whichever party emerges victorious will form the next government, marking a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s political transition.

India’s NDTV framed the election as a dramatic showdown, headlining its report: “Tarique Rahman vs Jamaat: Bangladesh Votes 18 Months After Hasina’s Fall.” The Times of India wrote: “Bangladesh Election: No Hasina, BNP’s Return and a Revived Jamaat.” Another Indian outlet, ANI, described the vote as taking place “amid uncertainty following a historic political shift.”

The world is watching closely as Bangladesh navigates a new political landscape shaped by upheaval, rivalry and the promise of change.