- By Aditya Jha
- Wed, 11 Feb 2026 09:43 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Bangladesh Election: Bangladesh is set to get its new government soon, as the general elections will be held on Thursday, February 12. The election is being held almost 18 months after the ouster of the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The politics of the Asian country has revolved around two parties, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Awami League. However, the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami (BJI) is also a strong contender this time as the Awami League has not been allowed to contest the polls.
The BJI has evolved as an alternative to the old two-party system due to several reasons, including the ouster of Sheikh Hasina and a lack of trust in the traditional politicians. The party is strategically trying to target a larger voter base by forming an alliance with Islamist forces like Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis and Nezame-e-Islam. Apart from this, it also joined hands with the National Citizen Party (NCP), a secular force in Bangladesh.
While the BJI is contesting 224 constituencies, its partners are fighting on the remaining seats across the 300-seat parliament of Bangladesh. The party, known for raising traditional issues, is also trying to expand its horizon by targeting the young and women voters. During the campaign, BJI promised interest-free graduate loans and a zero-tolerance policy against extortion and market syndicates.
"Just one year ago, my party was written off as marginal, predicted to win only a handful of seats. Today, Jamaat stands on the brink of a majority. This is the people's will. When the people unite, nothing can stop them," Jamaat Ameer Shafiqur Rahman asserted.
While the party has tried to present itself as reformative, the critics pointed out that the party did not field even a single woman candidate, showing its radical thinking. The party leaders have also softened their tone against India, a shift in their stance.