Bangladesh Votes in Crucial Post-Hasina Election Amid Hopes and Fears

Bangladesh heads to the polls on February 12 in what many are calling its most consequential election in decades. The vote follows a youth-led uprising that ended Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule and ushered in an interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. Alongside a constitutional referendum on political reforms, the election is seen as a test of the country’s democracy. While voters hope for stability, rule of law and accountable leadership, concerns persist over political violence, the safety of minorities, women’s representation, and the growing influence of Islamist groups.