What does the national election mean for the future of Bangladesh?
The Inquiry
BBC
4.6 • 1.7K Ratings
🗓️ 3 February 2026
⏱️ 24 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Bangladesh will hold a national election in February, after years of political turmoil and the ousting of long-time leader Sheikh Hasina. Her rule of more than a decade delivered strong economic growth but was also accompanied by tighter political control and repeated confrontations with protesters.
Sheikh Hasina’s party, the Awami League, has been banned. This has brought renewed focus on the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s leader Tarique Rahman, who is the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia, as well as several emerging challengers.
Following years of unrest, the vote is seen as a test of whether Bangladesh can move towards political stability.
This week on The Inquiry, we’re asking: What does the national election mean for the future of Bangladesh?
Contributors: Shaheen Mamun, Executive Director of the Jargoron Foundation, London, UK Zia Chowdhury, journalist, Dhaka, Bangladesh Rounaq Jahan, Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for Policy Dialogue, Dhaka, Bangladesh Constantino Xavier, Senior Fellow at the Centre for Social and Economic Progress, New Delhi, India
Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Matt Toulson Researcher: Evie Yabsley Editor: Tom Bigwood Technical Producer: Cameron Ward Production Management Assistant: Liam Morrey
This programme has been updated since the original broadcast.
(Photo: A woman casting her ballot during the 2024 national election in Bangladesh. Credit: Ahmed Salahuddin/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:07.7 | Welcome to the inquiry from the BBC World Service with me, Tanya Beckett. |
| 0:12.7 | One question, four expert witnesses, and an answer. |
| 0:17.8 | On February the 12th, 2026, Bangladesh plans to hold fully democratic elections for the first time since 2008. |
| 0:27.8 | Bordered on the north, west and east by India, Bangladesh is home to the fourth largest Muslim population in the world. |
| 0:35.6 | Its economy is the second largest in South Asia. Since its independence |
| 0:40.3 | in 1971, Bangladesh has been ruled by two dynasties, and leadership of the country has shifted |
| 0:47.1 | back and forth between their respective political parties. From 2009, power has been in the hands of a woman from just one of these |
| 0:57.8 | families, Sheikasina. As the daughter of the first president of Bangladesh, her image is deeply |
| 1:04.5 | intertwined with the founding of the nation. Her administration stretched for well over a decade |
| 1:10.5 | and was marked by strong |
| 1:12.6 | economic growth, but also a progressive move away from democracy. Growing dissent amongst |
| 1:20.0 | Bangladeshis was met with violent crackdowns. Then in August 2024, came her final |
| 1:26.5 | ousting. |
| 1:30.3 | And a new political landscape is emerging. |
| 1:32.6 | This week on the inquiry, we're asking, what does the national election mean for the future of Bangladesh? |
| 1:39.3 | Part 1. The Fall of Shech Hasina. |
| 1:44.5 | Spanish is a country rich full of resources, |
| 1:48.1 | rich full of talented individuals from all sectors. |
| 1:51.8 | The instability of the government and the lack of democracy |
| 1:55.1 | sometimes hinders those that are trying to successfully create |
| 1:58.5 | a country that's peaceful and understands the principles of democracy. |
... |
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