Bangladesh Election 2026 Live: Voters Hail Hassle-Free Polling, Strong Arrangements Inside Booths; BNP Leader Killed in Khulna

Live Updates

• 14:01 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | Bangladesh Election 2026: BNP leader dies after alleged attack by Jamaat members in Khulna-2 constituency

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: BNP leader Mohibuzzaman Kochi was killed following an alleged attack by leaders and activists of Jamaat in the Khulna-2 constituency. The incident marks the first reported death linked to the ongoing election.

• 11:05 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | BSF on High Alert in Jalpaiguri Amid Security Concerns

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: BSF is on high alert at the Fulbari Integrated Check Post (ICP) Indo-Bangladesh border in Jalpaiguri as the 13th Parliamentary Elections are underway in Bangladesh.

  #WATCH | Bangladesh Elections | BSF is on high alert at the Fulbari Integrated Check Post (ICP) Indo-Bangladesh border in Jalpaiguri as the 13th Parliamentary Elections are underway in Bangladesh. pic.twitter.com/QgMqszHqXw

  — ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2026

• 10:19 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | Yunus Casted in Dhaka, Calls Day ‘Birthday of New Bangladesh’

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates:  Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus casted his vote at Gulshan Model High School and College in Dhaka.

  Speaking to the media after voting, Yunus said the day was one of “great joy” and described it as “the birthday of the new Bangladesh”, according to the Dhaka Tribune.

  Bangladesh Elections | Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus, casts his vote for the 13th Parliamentary elections, at a polling centre in Dhaka.
  
  (Source: Chief Adviser Press Wing) pic.twitter.com/i4AnQV0rdE

  — ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2026

• 08:43 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | Jamaat Fields First Hindu Candidate in Landmark Move

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates:  Jamaat-e-Islami has nominated a Hindu candidate for the first time in its history. Krishna Nandi is contesting from the Khulna-1 constituency in the 13th national election. The seat has a Hindu-majority population, and Nandi currently leads the Dumuria unit of Jamaat’s Hindu committee.
• 08:37 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | BNP Leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir Voted at Thakurgaon in Bangladesh

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir voted at the Thakurgaon Government Girls’ High School polling station, Prothom Alo reported. He is contesting from the Thakurgaon-1 seat.

• 08:35 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | Tight Security in Bangladesh as EC Deploys Nearly 1 Million Personnel

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates:  Voting is underway in Bangladesh’s general elections under tight security. The Election Commission has made extensive arrangements and deployed nearly one million security personnel, the largest security presence ever seen during an election in the country.

  The contest is mainly between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its former ally Jamaat-e-Islami. The polls are being held without the Awami League, which was disbanded under former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Last year, the interim government led by chief adviser Muhammad Yunus dissolved the party and barred it from participating in the election.

• 08:30 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | Jamaat-e-Islami Chief Shafiqur Rahman Votes in Bangladesh Polls

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman casted his vote at around 8:30 am at the Manipur High School polling centre. The 67-year-old leader has carried out a focused grassroots campaign. If elected, the former political prisoner could lead the first Islamist-backed government in constitutionally secular Bangladesh.

• 08:05 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | Heavy public participation marks the good start of polling in Bangladesh

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: Voters have come out in big numbers,” a voter said they felt “amazing” because it was the first time they had voted in their life, adding that the process was easy as the ballots were not causing any problems. The voter also said there would be no difficulty for people casting their votes, as the arrangements inside the polling station were well managed.

  #WATCH | Dhaka, Bangladesh | A voter says, "I am feeling amazing because this is the first time in my life I have voted, and it's so easy because the ballots aren't causing any issues... For voters, there will be no problem casting their votes, and the inside arrangement is such… https://t.co/m8T3LHe8pG pic.twitter.com/G2Z8XHxLRA

  — ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2026

• 07:27 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | Election Chief Urges ‘Festive Spirit’ as Voting Begins

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: Bangladesh’s Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin described the ongoing vote as one of the most important elections in the country’s history and appealed for responsible conduct from political parties, candidates and voters.

  In a televised address ahead of polling, Nasir Uddin said differences of opinion are natural in a democracy and urged citizens to visit polling stations in a festive spirit and vote freely for their preferred candidates.

• 07:10 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | Key Snapshot Ahead of Polling Day

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: Bangladesh is voting to elect a new Parliament (Jatiyo Sangsad), with 300 seats at stake and a majority of 151. Polling will take place on February 12 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. IST, with results due on February 13.

  The electorate is 12.77 crore, with 6.48 crore men, 6.28 crore women, and 1,120 voters identifying as third gender. This election has seen the biggest turnout of young voters in the last 15 years.

  A total of 2,028 candidates are in the fray, comprising 1,755 candidates from political parties and 273 independents. Among them are 83 women candidates. Voting is underway at 42,779 polling centres, overseen by around eight lakh polling officers, while 9.58 lakh law enforcement personnel—including members of the Army, Air Force, Navy, RAB, and Ansar—have been deployed.

  Fifty political parties are participating in the elections. Major contenders include the Bangladesh Nationalist Party with 292 candidates, Jamaat-e-Islami with 225, Jatiyo Party with 196, Bangladesh Islami Andolan with 259, and the National Citizen Party with 30.

  In addition, 394 international election observers and 197 foreign journalists have arrived in Dhaka to monitor and document the polls.

• 07:08 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | Polling Begins Across the Country

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: Polling for the Bangladesh Parliamentary Election 2026 began at 7:30 am local time and will continue without interruption until 4:30 pm. Voting is underway at 42,779 polling centres across the country.

• 06:56 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | What Is the July Charter and Why Is a Referendum Being Held?

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: Alongside voting to elect a new government, Bangladeshi voters are also participating in a referendum on the July Charter, a proposed constitutional reform package backed by the interim leadership.

  The July Charter aims to recalibrate executive powers and strengthen accountability mechanisms. If approved, its passage would mandate several constitutional amendments in Bangladesh.

• 06:56 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | Why the Youth and Gen Z Vote Matters?

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: Nearly 44 per cent of Bangladesh’s electorate is between the ages of 18 and 37, including around five million first-time voters, making young voters a decisive force in the 2026 parliamentary election.

  After playing a prominent role in the anti-Hasina protests, young Bangladeshis are now looking to translate street mobilisation into electoral outcomes, adding a crucial dimension to the voting dynamics.

• 06:53 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | What Do Opinion Polls Say Ahead of Voting?

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: Opinion polls indicate a close contest in the Bangladesh Parliamentary Election 2026. A survey conducted by the United States-based International Republican Institute and released in December 2025 placed the Bangladesh Nationalist Party at 33 per cent support.

  The same poll showed Jamaat-e-Islami close behind with 29 per cent, pointing to a tight race between the two leading political forces.

• 06:48 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | Who Are the Top Contenders in the Parliamentary Race?

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, a centre-right party, is contesting the election as the lead force of a 10-party coalition under the leadership of Tarique Rahman. The 60-year-old BNP chief returned to Bangladesh in December after spending nearly 17 years in exile in London.

  Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh is leading an 11-party alliance that includes the National Citizen Party, formed by students who spearheaded protests against Sheikh Hasina in 2024. Jamaat is headed by 67-year-old Shafiqur Rahman.

• 06:46 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | All You Need to Know About the Parliamentary Polls

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: More than 127 million registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots in the Bangladesh Parliamentary Election 2026 across 42,766 polling centres nationwide.

  The Bangladesh Nationalist Party is widely seen as the leading contender, but it faces stiff competition from the alliance between Jamaat-e-Islami—the country’s largest Islamist party—and the student-led National Citizen Party. In total, 51 political parties and nearly 2,000 candidates are contesting the election. The winning party will assume power from the interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.

• 06:40 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | How Bangladesh’s Parliamentary Election System Works

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: Bangladesh follows a parliamentary system based on a first-past-the-post model, where the candidate securing the highest number of votes in each constituency is declared the winner.

  The Jatiya Sangsad has 350 seats in total, of which 300 are directly elected, while 50 seats reserved for women are allocated to parties proportionally based on their overall performance. Polling is taking place in 299 constituencies, with voting postponed in one seat following the death of a candidate during the campaign.

• 06:35 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | 2 Dead, Nearly 500 Injured in Poll-Related Violence This Month

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: Bangladesh is voting amid a politically sensitive environment, with a spike in poll-related violence reported in the first 10 days of February. In recent days, killings of political leaders and incidents of arson at polling booths have raised concerns over security and voter turnout, prompting authorities to deploy security forces nationwide.

  According to Bangladeshi human rights body Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), at least 47 journalists faced violence during this period. ASK said 58 incidents of political unrest were recorded across the country, leaving two people dead and 489 others injured—marking an increase compared to the final 10 days of January.

• 06:35 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | BNP or Jamaat—Who Is Better Placed to Win?

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: The main contest in the Bangladesh Parliamentary Election 2026 is between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, and the Jamaat-e-Islami, led by Shafiqur Rahman. Jamaat is contesting alongside the newly formed National Citizen Party, which emerged from the anti-Hasina protests of 2024.

  Pre-election surveys suggest the BNP is likely to emerge as the frontrunner, while Jamaat-e-Islami is projected to record its strongest electoral performance to date. However, analysts say multiple political and turnout-related factors could still influence the final outcome.

• 06:29 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | Why the First Post-Hasina Vote Is Crucial for India

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: As Bangladesh heads into its first parliamentary election after the exit of Sheikh Hasina, the outcome is being closely watched in New Delhi due to its potential impact on India’s strategic and diplomatic interests. A possible shift in power from the Awami League to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party could redefine bilateral ties amid rising anti-India sentiment.

  Key concerns for India include a move from strategic comfort to uncertainty, cooling ties in the absence of Hasina, growing calls to extradite the former prime minister, security implications for India’s Northeast, increasing Chinese influence in Bangladesh, unresolved water-sharing disputes, and Dhaka’s evolving role as a ‘voice’ of the Global South.

• 06:29 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | 21 Detained Over Poll Irregularities Ahead of Voting

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: At least 21 people were detained or jailed across various districts on the eve of polling for possessing cash, intruding into polling centres, and other election-related irregularities, according to The Daily Star.

  Those detained and later released include Thakurgaon district Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Belal Uddin Prodhan and Badrul Alam Shyamal, a close aide and cousin of BNP candidate Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Anee.

• 06:27 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | How to Cast Your Vote Today

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: Voters are required to visit their assigned polling centres with their voter serial number and valid ID to cast their ballots. Election officials will verify identities, mark voters’ fingers with indelible ink, and issue two ballots—black-and-white for the parliamentary election and pink for the constitutional referendum.

  Voters must mark their choices inside the secret booth, fold each ballot, and place them in the designated ballot boxes. Mobile phones are permitted inside polling centres, but taking photographs inside the voting booth is strictly prohibited.

• 06:23 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | Home Adviser Warns of Strict Action Over Poll Irregularities

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: Home Adviser Lieutenant General Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury (Retd) warned of strict action against election officials and law enforcement personnel if irregularities such as ballot box snatching or fraudulent voting are reported during the national election.

  According to the Dhaka Tribune, Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus will cast his vote at the Gulshan Model School and College polling centre. His Press Wing said Prof Yunus will participate in the 13th Parliamentary Election as well as the Referendum on the July National Charter.

• 05:44 (IST) 12 Feb 2026

  LIVE | Polling to Begin at 7:30 am Across 42,779 Stations

  Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: Voting in the Bangladesh Parliamentary Election 2026 will begin at 7:30 am across 42,779 polling stations nationwide. Security has been tightened across the country, with Dhaka designated as a high-risk city. Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and Rapid Action Teams (RATs) have been deployed in key areas of the capital to maintain law and order.

  The electorate comprises 6.48 crore men and 6.28 crore women. A total of 1,755 candidates from 50 registered political parties are contesting across 299 parliamentary constituencies.

  Stay with us for Bangladesh Election 2026 LIVE Updates.