Bangladesh is holding its first national election since the 2024 student-led protests toppled the 15-year rule of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in a vote that marks a dramatic shift in the country’s political landscape.

Millions of voters cast ballots Thursday as Bangladesh seeks to elect a new government and approve proposed constitutional changes in a concurrent referendum. The election comes nearly a year after mass demonstrations swept the nation, demanding an end to what critics described as Hasina’s increasingly autocratic governance.

The protest movement, which began on university campuses and spread nationwide, was met with a violent crackdown. Rights groups and protest leaders say as many as 1,400 people were killed, with allegations that Hasina directly ordered security forces to suppress dissent — claims she has consistently denied.

In a landmark decision earlier this year, the Bangladesh Supreme Court upheld the conviction of Hasina for crimes against humanity related to the 2024 crackdown. Hasina, currently in detention in Dhaka, was sentenced to death in November after an expedited trial that drew international criticism for its pace and procedural irregularities.

As part of a transitional process agreed upon by the country’s political factions, Hasina’s Awami League party has been barred from contesting this election, a move supporters call necessary for fair competition and opponents call punitive.

Instead, the electoral contest is dominated by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami, which has joined forces with the United Student Movement Party (USMP) — a political outfit formed out of the 2024 uprising. Analysts say the alliance seeks to channel the energy of the protest movement into parliamentary power while countering the BNP’s longstanding influence.

An interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus has administered the country since Hasina fled the capital following her arrest last year. Yunus, a prominent economist and founder of the Grameen Bank microcredit system, was appointed to oversee the transition and ensure stability during the election period.

“The turnout and conduct of this election will define our nation’s future trajectory,” Yunus said in a televised address Friday. “This is a moment for democracy — not division.”

In addition to choosing lawmakers, voters are also deciding on a proposed constitutional amendment package aimed at curbing executive power and strengthening judicial independence and electoral oversight. The referendum, widely promoted by civil society groups, would also enshrine new protections for freedom of expression and assembly.

Critics of the referendum, including some BNP figures, have raised concerns that the amendments do not go far enough and that emergency powers retained by the military and caretaker structures could still be used to stifle future dissent.

The election has drawn close international scrutiny. The United Nations and the European Union have dispatched observer missions to monitor polling stations, while governments from New Delhi to Washington have called for a peaceful and transparent process.

“The people of Bangladesh deserve a free, fair, and safe election,” said a joint statement from Western envoys earlier this week. “We are watching developments with keen interest and stand ready to support the democratic will of the Bangladeshi people.”

Security in Dhaka and other major cities has been tight, with police and military units deployed to prevent violence or disruption. Despite lingering fears among some voters, early turnout reports suggest high participation, particularly among young voters — many of whom first entered politics during the 2024 protests.

Political analysts say this election will be a turning point for Bangladesh, determining whether the country can solidify democratic reforms after years of polarization and unrest, or whether new tensions will emerge as power shifts hands.

As results begin to be tallied tomorrow, all eyes will be on Dhaka to see whether the historic uprising’s momentum translates into lasting political change. (ILKHA)