Campaigning begins in Bangladesh for first election after Hasina’s ouster

The ballot scheduled for February 12 is seen arsenic a large trial for ideology successful the South Asian nation.

Campaigning has begun successful Bangladesh arsenic the state prepares to clasp the archetypal nationalist elections since the 2024 uprising that ousted longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The large governmental parties connected Thursday held run rallies successful the capital, Dhaka, up of the ballot scheduled for February 12.

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The interim authorities led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus has pledged to clasp a escaped and just election, which is seen arsenic the astir consequential successful Bangladesh’s history.

The South Asian federation of astir 170 cardinal radical volition elite 350 lawmakers and determine connected projected governmental reforms. European Union predetermination observers accidental the ballot volition beryllium the “biggest antiauthoritarian process of 2026”.

Yunus, the 85-year-old known arsenic the “banker to the poor” arsenic helium helped assistance millions retired of poorness done his Grameen Bank, said helium inherited a “completely broken” governmental system.

He returned from exile successful August 2024 astatine the behest of protesters to pb a caretaker authorities arsenic “chief adviser”, but helium has pledged to measurement down aft the polls.

His interim authorities championed a betterment charter that Yunus argued was captious to forestall a instrumentality to authoritarian rule, with a referendum connected the changes to beryllium held connected the aforesaid time arsenic polling.

The July National Charter, named aft the uprising that began successful July 2024 and led to the autumn of Hasina, includes giving the presidency much authorization to equilibrium what had been a almighty premier minister’s position. It besides proposes word limits for legislators, and measures to forestall conflicts of interest, wealth laundering and corruption.

It was signed past twelvemonth by 25 of the country’s 52 registered governmental parties, but supporters accidental a referendum is needed to marque it legally binding and portion of the constitution.

Hasina, 78, was sentenced to decease successful absentia successful November for crimes against humanity for the deadly crackdown connected protesters successful her failed bid to cling to power, and remains successful hiding successful India.

Parties clasp rallies amid disinformation claims

The Awami League party, formerly led by Hasina, has been barred from moving successful the predetermination aft the country’s Election Commission suspended its registration successful May.

Tarique Rahman, president of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and lad of erstwhile Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is wide seen arsenic a starring contender for premier minister. He launched his run successful the northeastern metropolis of Sylhet connected Thursday and is scheduled to sojourn respective different districts successful the coming days.

Tens of thousands of supporters rallied successful Sylhet, chanting his name.

“Do we person a leader? Yes, we do,” BNP loyalists shouted. Rahman lone returned to Bangladesh successful December aft 17 years successful exile.

“He volition transportation guardant the bequest of his parents,” Harun Ur Rashid, 40, told the AFP quality agency, referring to Zia and her husband, erstwhile president Ziaur Rahman, who was assassinated successful 1981.

A 10-party confederation led by the Jamaat-e-Islami enactment is besides seeking to grow its influence. If the Jamaat-led confederation is capable to look victorious, it volition beryllium a melodramatic turnaround for a enactment that was subjected to a brutal crackdown during Hasina’s 15-year government.

Jamaat-e-Islami has agelong faced disapproval from secular groups who accidental its positions situation Bangladesh’s secular foundations. The state is location to 1 of the world’s largest Muslim-majority populations.

“We privation thing caller and the caller enactment is Jamaat,” Mohammad Jalal, 40, told the Reuters quality bureau arsenic helium attended the party’s rally successful Dhaka. “They person a cleanable representation and enactment for the country.”

Earlier this month, Yunus said helium was “concerned” astir the interaction of a surge of disinformation, blaming some “foreign media and section sources”.

“They person flooded societal media with fake news, rumours and speculation,” Yunus said.

He did not specify which overseas powers helium believed were down the disinformation, but relations with neighbouring India person soured aft Hasina escaped to her aged state New Delhi arsenic protesters stormed her palace.