Amidst the current political situation in Bangladesh, the announcement of elections is considered very important for the entire South Asia. Even before the 13th general elections to be held on February 12, there are clear indications that the country’s politics is moving towards a major change. Amidst the cold and dense fog, the political temperature of Bangladesh is continuously increasing and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) seems to be getting the maximum benefit from it.

Recently, a big opinion poll conducted by Eminence Associates for Social Development has revealed surprising results. In this survey, opinions of more than 20 thousand voters from all 300 parliamentary constituencies of the country were taken. According to the survey, about 70 percent people are in the mood to vote in favor of BNP, which is considered a big lead for the party. In comparison, Jamaat-e-Islami has got 19 percent support.

Relief news for Tariq Rehman

This opinion poll is no less than a big good news for BNP acting leader Tariq Rehman. The party is now preparing to formally make him the national president soon. BNP General Secretary Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, while talking to the media in Sylhet, has indicated that this decision can be taken in a day or two.

Election campaign can start from Sylhet

According to party sources, Tariq Rehman may start his election campaign from Sylhet. This is the same area from where late leader Khaleda Zia used to start her election campaigns. BNP is considering this step as very important emotionally and politically and is linking it to the heritage of the party.

Party formed from student movement did not get support

Another important thing has emerged in the results of the survey. The National Citizens Party (NCP), which emerged from the student movement against the Sheikh Hasina government in August last year, has received only 2.6 percent support. This makes it clear that the strength seen on the streets does not necessarily translate into electoral support.

Big dent in Awami League’s vote bank

The most surprising aspect of the opinion poll is that about 60 percent of the old supporters of Awami League now want to vote for BNP, while more than 20 percent of the voters seem to be leaning towards Jamaat-e-Islami.

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Former Bangladesh PM Begum Khaleda Zia will contest the 13th National Parliament elections. At present his condition is bad and he is undergoing treatment in the hospital. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has filed nomination papers on his behalf from Bogra-7 constituency.

Where will Khaleda Zia contest elections from?

Dhaka Tribune reported that the nomination paper for Bogra-7 seat was submitted by Bangladesh Nationalist Party President Khaleda Zia on Monday (29 December 2025). Party Chief’s advisor Helaluzzaman Talukdar Lalu filed nomination papers in the office of Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Taufiqur Rehman at around 3:00 pm.

Khaleda Zia, contesting from Bogra-7 seat, was represented by party leaders including Shahjahanpur Upazila BNP President Inamul Haq Shaheen and Gabtoli Upazila BNP General Secretary Inamul Haq Natoon.

Bogra-7 seat has special importance for BNP

Helaluzzaman Talukdar Lalu said that Bogra-7 seat has historical significance for BNP, this seat has been the home of party founder Ziaur Rehman, Khaleda Zia had won this seat for the first time in the 1991 national parliamentary elections and had also won here in 1996 and 2001.

According to Prothom Alo media outlet, Dhaka South City BNP convenor and Khaleda Zia’s election coordinator Munshi Rafiqul Alam, also known as Majnu, also filed his nomination as BNP candidate for the same constituency.

‘If you are not able to contest the elections at the last moment, then another candidate will contest’

Party vice president Abdul Awal Mintu, who came to submit the nomination of Khaleda Zia, said that a second candidate has been arranged for this constituency. He said, ‘Our leader is ill, if she is unable to contest the elections at the last moment, then another candidate will contest. However, even if Khaleda Zia is not in the field, the campaign is continuing on her behalf.

Earlier, on the afternoon of December 21, BNP leaders under the leadership of Central Executive Committee member Abu Taleb had collected nomination forms on behalf of Khaleda Zia for Feni-1 constituency.

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Along with the general elections, a referendum will also be held in Bangladesh on 12 February 2026. The last date for filing nomination papers is December 29, 2025 and the scrutiny of nomination papers will take place between December 30 and January 30. Elections are to be held on 300 seats here. After the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina on August 5, 2024, an interim government is running in Bangladesh under the leadership of Mohammad Yunus.

Radical forces are a threat to the future of Bangladesh

The interim government of Mohammad Yunus has taken more than one and a half years to conduct general elections in Bangladesh. However, the situation has still not improved in Bangladesh. Every day there are reports of violence, arson and atrocities on Hindus. At present, law and order remains the biggest challenge in the neighboring country. Radical forces are establishing their roots across the country. These fundamentalist forces are emerging as a threat to the future elections of Bangladesh.

In the year 2024, when there was a violent movement against Sheikh Hasina in Bangladesh, she had to leave the country. Meanwhile, the students who were involved in this movement together formed a political party, National Citizen Party (NCP), but now when the elections are approaching, there is a strong discussion about the NCP party joining hands with the fundamentalist ideology Jamaat-e-Islami. Hurt by this decision, many NCP leaders are leaving the party and opposing this alliance.

A wave of resignations in NCP, a party formed out of student movement

The views of Jamaat and NCP are very different. The thinking of Jamaat is very different from the reforms announced by NCP during the student movement. At present, Naheed Islam is the convener of NCP, on whom most questions are being raised. In Bangladesh, Naheed is being accused of carrying forward the agenda of Jamaat-e-Islami. This is the reason why today NCP’s Mahfooz Alam has also announced to leave the party.

Party’s Joint Secretary Mir Irshadul has also announced his resignation. Till now, more than 30 leaders are leaving the party. Because of this, it is also being discussed that what was the real objective of the student movement that took place last year? Was the only objective of that movement to remove Sheikh Hasina from power? Did the leaders associated with NCP deceive the people of Bangladesh? These questions are circulating in the political atmosphere of Bangladesh.

However, seat sharing could also be a major reason behind NCP joining hands with Jamaat. If NCP had joined hands with Khaleda Zia’s party BNP, it would have got very less seats and with Jamaat, it could have contested more seats, for which NCP seems to be abandoning its issues.

BNP will be the biggest party in Bangladesh elections

Experts in Dhaka believe that BNP i.e. Bangladesh Nationalist Party can become the largest party in these elections. This party of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is considered the biggest political enemy of Sheikh Hasina. Khaleda Zia is currently ill and admitted in the hospital. Khaleda’s son Tariq Rahman has returned to Bangladesh after 17 years and is handling the party’s election campaign. This time in the general elections he himself is trying his luck from 2 seats.

On the other hand, Jamaat-e-Islami is also fielding its candidates in these elections. Sheikh Hasina had banned this party because Jamaat is considered a party that supports fundamentalism. This party is led by Shafiqur Rehman and was also a part of the coalition in the BNP government between 2001-06.

Overall, mainly only 3 parties are visible on a large scale in the electoral arena in Bangladesh. However, Bangladesh’s largest party, Awami League, is banned from participating in the electoral process. Awami League is Sheikh Hasina’s party and Sheikh Hasina had left the country after the coup, but big questions are being raised on the ban on Sheikh Hasina’s party Awami League in the electoral process of Bangladesh. Many international experts believe that without Awami League, the elections in Bangladesh are being considered fixed.

Mohammad Yunus silent on attacks on Hindus

At the same time, the challenge before Bangladesh is to conduct peaceful elections, because fundamentalist forces are targeting common Hindus in Bangladesh. Questions are also being raised on the silence of Mohammad Yunus. Recently, Mohammad Yunus has met the High Commissioner of Pakistan in Bangladesh, after which questions are being raised on the intentions of Yunus.

Along with the elections, referendum is also to be held in Bangladesh on 12th February, which means voting will take place twice in a day. Different colored ballot papers will be used for both of these. For parliamentary elections, black colored ballot paper will be used on white paper, whereas for referendum, colored ballot paper will be used. A total of 42,761 polling centers have been built in Bangladesh, in which there will be 2,44,739 booths.

Voting time has been kept from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. 12,76,12,384 voters will cast their votes in the general elections to be held in the year 2026. Which includes approximately 6,47,60,382 male voters and 6,28,50,772 female voters. About 1,230 transgender voters are also included. After the voting is over, counting of votes will start.

Acting President of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Tariq Rahman returned to Dhaka on 25 December 2025 after a long stay of 17 years. He is the elder son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and is considered the de-facto leader of BNP. His return is being considered very special before the parliamentary elections to be held on 12 February 2026, because BNP is likely to get the maximum number of seats in the elections.

Tariq had gone to London after being released from jail.

Tariq Rehman had gone to London in 2008 on the pretext of treatment. He was released from jail amid the political crisis at that time. While in London, he took charge of the party, keeping the BNP united through online meetings and rallies. From 2009, he became the senior vice president of the party and later the acting president. He also started a private PR company White and Blue Consultants Limited there.

There were allegations of money laundering and conspiracy to murder.

During Sheikh Hasina’s government, Tariq was facing many serious charges like money laundering and conspiracy to murder. He was sentenced in absentia, but after the removal of Hasina’s government, these decisions were reversed and all the cases were closed. Sheikh Hasina had to resign after a major student movement in July 2025 and went to India. Since then BNP’s position has strengthened.

How will BNP benefit from Tariq’s arrival?

According to a survey by America’s International Republican Institute, BNP may get the maximum number of seats in the Parliament. Tariq Rehman is being considered the strongest contender for the next Prime Minister. His 80-year-old mother Khaleda Zia is ill and admitted in a hospital in Dhaka. His mother’s health is also said to be a major reason for Tariq’s return.

Tariq will contest from Bogura-6 seat

After his return, Tariq Rehman addressed supporters in a big rally. He will meet his mother and start election campaign soon. He is going to contest from Bogura-6 seat. His arrival will give new strength to the BNP and is being considered a sign of political change in the country, where incidents of violence, instability and attacks on minorities have increased in recent months.

Tariq said that Bangladesh belongs to people of all religions

Addressing the public at the rally, Tariq said, ‘Bangladesh belongs to people of all religions. Today the people of Bangladesh want to get back their right to speak. Now the time has come that we all together build the country. This country belongs to the people of mountains and plains, of Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians. We want to create a safe Bangladesh, where every woman, man and child can leave and return home safely.

Tariq came to Bangladesh with his wife and daughter

60 year old Tariq Rehman reached Bangladesh from London with his wife Zubaida Rehman and daughter Jaima Rehman. Senior BNP leader, Standing Committee member and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir received him at the airport. He left the place amid tight security and proceeded to a grand reception at 300 Feet Road (Purbachal). Where lakhs of supporters welcomed him.

Khaleda was a staunch opponent of Sheikh Hasina

The politics of Bangladesh has revolved around two leaders, one of whom was Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina and the other was BNP’s Khaleda Zia. There was military rule in Bangladesh in the 1980s. At that time, Hasina and Khaleda used to protest together on the streets against the military rule. After Khaleda Zia won the elections in 1991, political enmity between Khaleda and Sheikh Hasina increased. Whenever elections were held in Bangladesh after 1990, power went either to Khaleda Zia or to Sheikh Hasina. The media names it ‘Battle of Begums’ i.e. fight of two Begums.

The murmur about next year’s elections in Bangladesh has intensified. Ahead of the election season amid a growing political crisis, the National Citizen Party (NCP) accused both the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the radical Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami of indulging in an irrelevant debate on the implementation of the July Charter.

According to local media, the NCP also alleged that it had derailed the process and created uncertainty over the February 2026 elections. A leading Bangladeshi newspaper quoted NCP chief coordinator Naseeruddin Patwari as saying during an event in Dhaka on Thursday (October 30, 2025), ‘Whether the referendum will be held first or later, this is an absurd dispute between Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP. We (NCP) will not participate in this debate.

Addressing another seminar of NCP’s youth wing ‘Jatiyo Juboshokti’, Patwari said, ‘We have still not received any solution to the recommendations of the July Charter, we have not received any solution to the proposals, nor have we received any solution regarding the order.’

He also criticized the Jamaat for repeatedly raising the issue of referendum. The NCP leader asked, ‘If you are talking about the question of referendum or fixing the date before the elections, is the purpose of this to get more seats, or is there some other reason?’

The NCP leader stressed that if the referendum is held and the result is ‘yes’, it will be a victory for the people of Bangladesh and not for the Jamaat. He further said, ‘Therefore, we call upon Jamaat-e-Islami to stop this pretense.’

He accused Jamaat and BNP of working together to push the country towards uncertainty at a time of national crisis. He stressed, ‘We call on the Jamaat not to spread panic among the public regarding the referendum. Instead, we should focus on how we can find solutions regarding the process of disagreement, how orders can be issued.

Furthermore, the NCP leader commented that the BNP’s dissent letter through the Bangladesh National Consent Commission was actually a fraud. Amid growing political differences over the July Charter, the BNP recently accused the NCC of ‘betraying’ the people and political parties through its final recommendations on the July Charter. Along with this, he demanded immediate improvement in it by including the letters of disagreement.

On the other hand, the Jamaat demanded that the referendum on constitutional reforms mentioned in the July Charter be held before the elections, even if it means postponing the elections. Parties that had earlier collaborated with Yunus to oust the democratically elected government of Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League are now at loggerheads over reform proposals.

The political atmosphere in Bangladesh is becoming unstable and tense these days. Before the parliamentary elections to be held in February 2026, fundamentalist organizations have intensified their activities. Now the target of these groups is not only India, but the religious organization ISKCON has also become. Student organizations associated with Jamaat-e-Islami, Hizbut Tahrir and Hefazat-e-Islam have started protest rallies across the country. These organizations are demanding a ban against ISKCON, accusing it of being an Indian agent.

From the capital Dhaka to Chittagong, workers of these organizations are taking out rallies outside mosques and appealing to the public to eliminate Indian influence. The nature of this campaign is not only religious but also political, because after the ban on Awami League in Bangladesh, the equation of power has completely changed.

24 Oct, SUST — after Jumma a march against ISKCON shouted “catch one ISKCON, slaughter” and “we’ll slaughter 100.” Such calls are dangerous; resolve grievances legally. Gazipur, Bangladesh. pic.twitter.com/a7z4TG6yCw

— Bangladesh Agniveer (@BDAgniveer) October 25, 2025

Accusations and religious polarization on ISKCON

Leaders of Hifazat-e-Islam Bangladesh in a big meeting held in Chittagong described ISKCON as an extremist Hindutva organization. The rally was presided over by the organization’s central Naib-e-Amir Maulana Ali Usman, who accused ISKCON of spreading unrest in the society. He said that the way action was taken against Awami League due to political crimes. Similarly, ISKCON should also be banned. He argued that peace and communal harmony in the country is possible only when organizations like ISKCON are brought under the ambit of law.

ISKCON is an international religious organization

ISKCON, which is an international religious organization based on devotion to Lord Krishna. It has been active in social and cultural activities in Bangladesh for a long time, but now it is being targeted as an organization spreading Indian cultural influence. This controversy is not limited to ISKCON only. This is actually a reflection of the conflict between religion and nationalism in the internal politics of Bangladesh.

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The political party there is also under threat among the dwindling Hindu population in Bangladesh. The only Hindu organization in Bangladesh, Bangladesh Sanatan Party (BSP) may now face many challenges in the Bangladeshi election to be held in 2026. BSP founder and general secretary Suman Kumar Roy said that the Election Commission is not independent in Bangladesh, but the Mohammad Yunus works at the behest of the government or army officials here.

Need to create party office

According to the report of News18, Suman Kumar Roy said that the BSP has more than 120 sub-departments and more than 50 committees and for this it needs at least 122 party offices, but it will take a lot of money and the registered parties here still do not have 122 party offices. He said that he is trying to argue to the interim government as to why it is beneficial for both sides to bring the BSP into the political field.

Why did the BSP (Bangladesh Sanatan Party) establish?

Talking about the formation of BSP, Roy said, ‘I am not against Sheikh Hasina. She had very good administrative knowledge, but she considered Hindus as only vote banks. One of her major drawbacks was that she wanted to keep everyone happy, whether it is India or China. Used to see fanatics and Hindus equally, you cannot do this. This is the reason that we had to lay the foundation of this party in 2022.

BSP did not get political recognition

Please tell that the BSP was formed on August 26, 2022 in Bangladesh. Due to Bangladeshi fundamentalists, the then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina could not give this party registered as a political organization. At the same time, according to the Election Commission, it is mandatory to register a political party.

According to the 2022 census, there were more than 1.31 crore Hindus in Bangladesh, 7.96% of the country’s population. According to reports, since the demolition of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government on August 5, there have been more than 200 attacks on Bangladesh’s minority Hindus in more than 50 districts. However, Bangladesh government chief Muhammad Yunus had assured the leaders of the Hindu community that we are all one and all will get justice.

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