Bangladesh Prepares to Hold First Elections After the July Revolution 2024

Dhaka, Bangladesh/UNSPLASH ILLUSTRATION/Yue WU

BANGKOK - Bangladeshis are preparing to cast their ballots in the 13th general election on Thursday, the first since the July 2024 uprising that ousted the old government, while the official campaign period ends Tuesday morning.

The government has set three national holidays starting February 10 to support the smooth running of the vote. Thousands of people, including factory workers in Dhaka, have returned to their constituencies because public transport restrictions will be imposed on election day.

Tabish Mahdi, a registered voter in Rangpur district who works in the capital, said he had trouble getting a bus ticket.

"It seems that people are very enthusiastic about this election because they were not able to vote in the previous election under the regime of Sheikh Hasina," he told Anadolu.

The surge in travel caused congestion on a number of major roads connecting Dhaka with other areas, according to local media reports.

The election is scheduled after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in August 2024 and fled to India, ending 15 years of Awami League rule and paving the way for an interim government.

Human rights advocacy group CAGE International considers the election a crucial moment for Bangladesh to move from authoritarian rule to better governance by addressing past mistakes while reforming the institution.

Of the 120.7 million registered voters, about a quarter are first-time voters who played a major role in the 2024 protest movement and are now pushing for a change in political culture and the country's administrative system.

Around 330 international observers from various countries and organizations, including the European Union, Commonwealth, and OIC, monitored the voting process, which was followed by nearly 2,000 candidates from more than 50 parties and independent candidates to compete for 300 parliamentary seats.

General elections were also held in conjunction with the reform referendum. A number of foreign observer teams have met with interim head of government Muhammad Yunus ahead of the elections.