Dhaka – Tensions flared in Dhaka on Thursday as supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) clashed during voting for Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary elections. Reports of violence came from the Mirpur-10 constituency, where Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman is contesting. Voting is underway across 299 seats, with 12.77 crore registered voters expected to cast ballots under a first-past-the-post system.
The elections are the first since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in August 2024 following mass student protests, and the first without her long-time rival, Khaleda Zia, who passed away in December 2025. Historically, Hasina and Zia alternated in office from 1991, shaping Bangladeshi politics for decades.
With both leaders gone, a new political landscape has emerged. Zia’s son, Tarique Rahman, returned from 17 years in exile and is positioning himself as a frontrunner for the prime ministership. Meanwhile, the Jamaat-e-Islami, previously allied with BNP, is contesting independently with support from the National Citizen Party, a Gen-Z student-led political outfit born out of the anti-Hasina protests.
Apart from electing the next government, voters will also participate in a referendum on the July National Charter, which includes limiting prime ministers to two terms, creating an upper house in parliament, and restoring the caretaker system to ensure free and fair elections.
India is closely monitoring the elections amid a spurt in attacks on minorities, including Hindus, since Hasina’s ouster. Analysts say the results will influence not only Bangladesh’s future but also regional geopolitics, affecting relations with India, China, and Pakistan. Security concerns remain high as clashes and violence are expected throughout polling day, reflecting the high stakes in this historic election.
