Bangladesh's First Election Since The Overthrow Of Former PM Hasina Held February 12, 2026

Election illustration. (Freepic-Rizky Aldiansyah)

JAKARTA - The General Election Commission (KPU) of Bangladesh has set February 12, 2026, in the inaugural general election (election) since the overthrow of Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina.

In a televised address on Thursday local time, the chairman of the Bangladesh KPU, AM.M. Nasir Uddin, confirmed the date of his country's election. The election will elect 300 lawmakers and efforts to refer to the national political reforms.

This is a relief to voters; this is a relief to the country. This is a relief to investors, this is a relief to development partners and political parties as well as people who have done a big job in July 2024 at the expense of their lives and body parts to overthrow tyranny," said National University political analyst and vice chancellor in Dhaka, Prof. USM Amanullah, quoted from AFP.

Hasina, who is supported by the Awami League Party, was marked by allegations of human rights violations, fraudulent election administration, and corruption. He was removed from office in August 2024 after 15 years in power.

Since then, Bangladesh has been led by interim leader Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel laureate, who took over the government after Hasina fled from a demonstration led by students ending in her leadership.

Bangladesh's special court in Dhaka found Hasina guilty of allowing the use of lethal force against demonstrators.

According to estimates from the UN human rights office, at least 1,400 people were killed in the demonstration.