Vote Counting Begins Across Bangladesh After Landmark Election Following 2024 Uprising

Dhaka: Vote counting is in progress across Bangladesh after polls closed Thursday in a landmark national election that could shape the nation’s political landscape following the 2024 uprising. Ballot tallying began immediately after voting concluded in all 299 parliamentary constituencies and is also being conducted for a concurrent referendum on constitutional reforms.

Officials from the Election Commission reported voter turnout approaching 48 percent by mid-afternoon, with the figure expected to rise as final votes are validated — a significant showing in what many observers describe as a highly symbolic election after nearly two years of political upheaval and the exile of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Counting centres opened across the country as soon as polling stations closed, and preliminary results began to emerge Thursday evening, though many constituencies are still in the process of tallying ballots. Because voters cast multiple ballots — for both the national parliament and the referendum — officials have cautioned that the final consolidated results might take longer than in past elections and could be released fully by Friday morning or afternoon.

Interim government and party representatives were present at several counting venues, with key figures keeping a close eye on early tallies. The election marks the first major test of Bangladesh’s democratic transition after a student-led Gen Z uprising in 2024 that ultimately unseated long-time political elites and opened the field to new configurations of power.

Two main coalitions are competing for majority control of the 300-member Jatiya Sangsad (national parliament): the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies, and an 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami, with political analysts and international observers scrutinising trends as counting progresses.

The electoral process has proceeded largely without major disruption, though isolated incidents of violence earlier in the day underscored lingering tensions. Security forces maintained a robust presence at counting centres to ensure order while results are compiled constituency by constituency.

As ballots continue to be counted and provisional figures are released, political parties are preparing for possible outcomes ranging from clear majorities to closely fought contests. Final results and official declarations are widely anticipated on Friday, February 13, as the Election Commission moves to complete verification and constituency reporting.