Bangladesh’s 2026 Election: a Pivotal Moment for Democracy

By Noah Eubanks

Bangladesh’s 2026 election is a pivotal transition to democracy following the Gen-Z protests that forced leader Sheikh Hasina into exile in 2024. Tarique Rahman’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won by a landslide on Thursday, positioning Rahman to become the prime minister.

These elections are the aftermath of the July Revolution in Bangladesh, a student-led movement with an initial goal to protest quota-reform in government jobs. The resulting security crackdown from Hasina escalated matters, amplifying protests and leading to the deaths of over 1,400 people. On August 5, 2024, Hasina resigned and fled to India, leaving the country in turmoil. Students helped establish Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel-winning economist, as the interim government leader with the challenging goal of dislodging systemic issues.

BNP won a majority in Thursday’s election in the 350-member Parliament. Rahman is returning after 17 years of self-imposed exile in England, following terror and corruption charges from Hasina. Rahman, son of two Bangladeshi prime ministers, has an immediate priority of restoring “All the democratic institutions [and] financial institutions, which have been destroyed over the last decade.”

Democracy is an invigorating prospect for many of the young voters, but its sustainability depends on Rahman and the new parliamentary members who will be ushered in. BNP must follow the rule of law and establish unity across the nation. The Party will also face potential issues with the resurgence of the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami Party, which has been accused of regressive policies and controversial views on women’s rights. Rahman’s success depends on his ability to curb autocratic systems and counter Islamic gains, while also addressing Gen-Z pressure for reform.