With just two days left until the national parliamentary election and referendum, Dhaka is rapidly emptying as residents leave the capital to return to their hometowns to vote. The impact of the election travel rush was clearly visible across the city on Tuesday, as Dhaka’s streets appeared unusually quiet, with little traffic and none of the familiar congestion. Meanwhile, the number of public transport vehicles operating inside the city remained very low. The exodus from the capital has been further fuelled by the government-declared holidays for the election. School holidays also began on Tuesday and will continue until February 15, accelerating the flow of voters out of Dhaka and leaving the city unusually empty ahead of polling day.

Source: Dhaka Tribune February 10, 2026 11:07 UTC