With voting underway for the 13th parliamentary elections, key leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen party (NCP) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) have cast their votes as reported by The Daily Star.
The elections come at a critical time in the country's history, almost two years after the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, was ousted following a student-led movement in July 2024.
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Shafiqur Rahman alleged that certain groups are spreading misinformation across the country to mislead voters, while Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman expressed gratitude to the country's top Islamic scholars for reportedly supporting
Bangladesh holds crucial parliamentary polls and a referendum tomorrow after Sheikh Hasina's ouster. Over 12.77 crore voters will decide 299 seats amid high security and hopes for democratic reform. Minorities fear post-poll violence in some areas.
Addressing a campaign rally at the Thakurgaon Government High School ground, Rahman said the Bangladesh Nationalist (BNP) aimed to reconstruct the country with the "support, love and strength" of the people.
The International Crisis Group highlighted uncertainty surrounding the polls, including concerns about the process's credibility and the risk of violence.
Weeks ahead of the national elections in Bangladesh, Awami League leader Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury Nowfel has termed the exercise a "one-sided election" that will lead to a "waste of public funds."
The election is scheduled for February 12, 2026, with nearly 2,000 candidates contesting 300 parliamentary seats. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami are leading the campaign, with BNP chairman Tarique Rahman addressing rallies across the country.
The meeting comes at a significant moment in Bangladesh's political landscape, with Tarique Rahman recently taking over as BNP Chairman after the post fell vacant following Khaleda Zia's death on December 30. The meeting also takes place amid rising violence against Hindus in Bangladesh afte