It is the world's first election after a revolution led by under-30s, or Gen Z, to be followed by Nepal next month. The contest pits two coalitions led by former allies, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Islamist Jamaat‑e‑Islami, with opinion polls giving an edge to the BNP. "I am feeling excited because we are voting in a free manner after 17 years," Hossain said as he waited in line. Unlike previous elections marred by opposition boycotts and intimidation, more than 2,000 candidates, including many independents, are vying for 300 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad, or House of the Nation. "This election is not just another routine vote,” Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, head of an interim government installed after Hasina’s ouster, said this week.

Source: The Edge Markets February 12, 2026 02:58 UTC