DHAKA: Millions of young Bangladeshis will vote for the first time on Thursday in a landmark election to determine the country&#39;s leadership following a 2024 student-led uprising that ended former prime minister Sheikh Hasina&#39;s autocratic rule. Young people aged from 18 to 37 make up 44% of the country&#39;s 129 million voters, many who say they never voted during&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladeshs-pm-hopeful-rahman-warns-of-huge-challenges-ahead" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hasina&#39;s</a>15-year iron-fisted tenure. Elections under the ousted prime minister&#39;s rule were marred by allegations of widespread rigging and bans on opposition parties. Faijullah Wasif, 33, a university official preparing to cast his first ballot, said he did not vote while Hasina was in power because he felt it would not make a difference. &quot;It was mainly because of fear and anxiety that I didn&#39;t go,&quot; he said. &quot;I did not even feel interested.&quot; The demographic bulge of younger voters has forced parties to recalibrate their&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-poll-rivals-rally-on-final-day-of-campaign" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">campaigns</a>and messages. The digital battleground has become central to the campaign and parties have invested heavily in online outreach, from Facebook videos to TikTok reels. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">&lsquo;I am very excited&rsquo;&nbsp;</h2>This election, Hasina&#39;s former ruling Awami League has been barred.<div class="fr-embed youtube-embed"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-_5mS1UQHPM" title="Bangladeshis excited over first post-Hasina polls" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: auto; aspect-ratio: 16 / 9; max-width: 100%; display: block;"></iframe>&nbsp;</div>Instead, the parties once crushed under her rule are running -- the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies, and a coalition led by Jamaat-e-Islami. Ashfah Binte Latif, 21, a student at Dhaka University, said her parents had told her stories of past elections, pre-Hasina, when polling day was celebrated like a festival. &quot;Now that we have managed to change the system, I am very excited,&quot; she said.&nbsp;The National Citizen Party (NCP), formed by the student leaders who spearheaded the uprising, have allied with Jamaat-e-Islami. Latif said she expected more from the young student leaders, but she is still eager for change. &quot;We expected young people to lead us -- and in many ways, they did,&quot; she said. &quot;If they fail, it&#39;s a failure for all of the young.&quot; The spark that ignited the 2024 unrest started on university campuses by students opposed to a quota system in the civil service, which they said excluded them from jobs. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">&#39;Fresh faces&#39;&nbsp;</h2>A year and a half later, Bangladesh&#39;s economy remains fragile, and graduates still struggle to land their first job. Election expert Md Abdul Alim, a former member of Bangladesh&#39;s election reform commission, said he expected a strong youth turnout. &quot;These young voters will carry this sense of deprivation with them to the polls, and they will vote,&quot; he said. Of around 2,000 candidates vying for the 350 seats -- some 1,400 standing for the first time -- more than 600 are aged 44 or below, according to statistics from the electoral commission. &lsquo;Dissenting voices&rsquo;Wasif, the university official, believes the fresh faces will benefit Bangladesh. &quot;Our trust in young people is very strong, and our hopes are high,&quot; Wasif said. &quot;Since young people brought about this change, I believe that it is through them that Bangladesh&#39;s political culture will undergo a radical transformation.&quot; Latif hopes it will usher in a more democratic leadership. &quot;A government that won&rsquo;t see dissenting voices as enemies, but will respect them,&quot; Latif said.

Bangladesh

Young people aged from 18 to 37 make up 44% of the country's 129 million voters, many who say they never voted during Hasina's 15-year iron-fisted tenure; demographic bulge of younger voters has forced parties to recalibrate their campaigns.

Younger Bangladesh voters primed for first post-Hasina election

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The European Union (EU) will deploy a large election observation mission to Bangladesh for the country&rsquo;s upcoming national election and referendum, the head of the mission Ivars Ijabs told the Chief Adviser, Muhammad Yunus,&nbsp;state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported on Sunday. The Chief Adviser&rsquo;s press secretary said EU election observation mission emphasized support for a &ldquo;Yes&rdquo; vote in the referendum, calling it crucial for enabling the implementation of essential reform agendas. Ijabs also informed the Chief Adviser that EU observers will be deployed across the country, monitor all regions and hold meetings with major political parties and other stakeholders as part of their mandate, BSS reported. Chief Adviser Yunus assured the EU that the election and referendum would be conducted smoothly and would be free, fair, credible, peaceful and festive. He said the Election Commission and the interim government are fully prepared to ensure the smooth conduct of both processes, adding that a level playing field will be ensured for all political parties and that he does not anticipate major difficulties. &#39;Extremely important&#39; Yunus thanked the EU for sending the observation mission, describing it as &ldquo;extremely important&rdquo; for holding a credible election and supporting Bangladesh&rsquo;s democratic transition, BSS reported. He said security forces will use body-worn cameras at vulnerable polling centers to monitor potential disturbances or deterioration in law and order. The system will be connected centrally through a mobile application, allowing monitoring at upazila, district, division, and Dhaka levels. In addition, all polling centers will be equipped with closed-circuit television cameras to enable rapid identification of troublemakers, he said. The military will remain deployed as a rapid-response striking force to intervene immediately if required. Awareness-building campaigns On the referendum, Yunus said the interim government is conducting and will continue awareness-building campaigns in favor of a &ldquo;Yes&rdquo; vote.&nbsp; He said legal opinions were sought on the issue and that top legal experts have provided written confirmation that the interim government is legally permitted to seek public support for the referendum, with no legal barriers. Although the formal election campaign is set to begin on January 22, Yunus said an election wave is already visible across the country. He identified misinformation and disinformation on social media as a major challenge, warning that elements linked to the fallen autocratic regime may attempt to disrupt the process. However, he said security forces are fully prepared to address any such threats. Yunus also noted strong enthusiasm among women and young voters and expressed optimism that voter turnout in the upcoming election would be very high.

The European bloc will deploy a large election observation mission to Bangladesh for the country’s upcoming national election and referendum.

EU to deploy large election observation mission to Bangladesh: State media

ISLAMABAD: Social media use in Bangladesh is set to hit a new high in early 2026, with about 64 million active social media user identities recorded in late 2025, according to the DataReportal report. United Nations population data cited in the report put Bangladesh&rsquo;s population at 176 million in October 2025, with a median age of 26. Bangladesh had 186 million cellular mobile connections in late 2025, equal to 105% of the population, according to DataReportal&rsquo;s roundup of GSMA Intelligence figures. The report said 82.8 million people used the internet at the end of 2025, placing online penetration at 47.0%. The report said social media user identities equal 36.3% of the total population and more than 77% of Bangladesh&rsquo;s internet users, highlighting how social platforms have become a primary channel for information. Big platforms, bigger reachFacebook remains the country&rsquo;s largest social platform, with 64 million users and a reach of nearly 55% of adults, the report said. TikTok is the fastest-growing major platform, reaching 56.2 million adults, according to the report.&nbsp; Professional platforms have also expanded. LinkedIn rose to 12 million members in late 2025, while Instagram reached 9.15 million users, the report said. Other platforms, such as Messenger, reached about 35.0 million users, while Reddit, X, and Threads each accounted for less than 1% of the total population. AI, social media abuseDataReportal said social media user identities in Bangladesh increased by 8.5 million, or 15.3%, between late 2024 and late 2025. With national elections expected in February, the Election Commission of Bangladesh is developing an effective strategy to curb the abuse of artificial intelligence and social media ahead of the February 2026 national elections, New Age reported. The commission, headed by AMM Nasir Uddin, views misinformation and disinformation on social media as a major challenge to maintaining a congenial electoral environment during the 13th parliamentary election. Election officials have expressed concern that AI-generated deepfakes and false content could be harder to detect and may disrupt campaigns, prompting the commission to consider regulatory and technical measures to address the threat, New Age reported.

In the south Asian nation, social media use is set to hit a critical peak in early 2026, with about 64 million active user identities recorded in October 2025, a level equivalent to 36.3% of the country’s population, according to a DataReportal report.

Social media use in Bangladesh surges ahead of February elections

ISLAMABAD: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairman Tarique Rahman said differences of opinion should not escalate into conflict, stressing that dialogue and democratic practice are the only sustainable paths forward for the nation, state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported on Saturday.&nbsp;Speaking at an exchange of views with editors and journalists from national-level media outlets in Dhaka, the son of former Bangladeshi prime minister late Khaleda Zia said, &ldquo;Even if there are differences of opinion, they must be reduced through discussion. Differences should not escalate to the level of conflict.&rdquo;&nbsp;Referring to recent history, Rahman said, &ldquo;The nation has seen the consequences of vengeance or retaliation on August 5, 2024,&rdquo; adding that violence, revenge, and division have brought despair but also lessons for the future.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;We saw on August 5 what the consequences of violence, revenge, and vengeance can be &mdash; whether for an individual, a party, or the nation,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Emphasizing unity, Rahman urged people of all political affiliations to resolve disagreements through discussion rather than confrontation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;If we try, perhaps we can resolve many problems by keeping those differences as differences and solving them through discussions,&rdquo; he said. &#39;Must maintain the democratic process&#39;Highlighting the importance of democracy, the BNP chairman said, &ldquo;At any cost, we must maintain the democratic process,&rdquo; noting that elections must be held at all levels.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;If the democratic process continues uninterrupted, solving the country&rsquo;s problems is possible,&rdquo; he added, expressing hope that the process would begin on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-prepares-for-february-12-elections-with-postal-voting-security-measures" style="color:#0073e6;">February 12</a>.&nbsp;Rahman said reforms must address constitutional and legal issues as well as people&rsquo;s daily lives.&nbsp;&ldquo;There have been some fundamental issues like people&rsquo;s daily lives, security, healthcare, employment, and children&rsquo;s education,&rdquo; he said, pledging that politics should not remain limited to seminars and symposiums. Women empowermentOutlining BNP&rsquo;s future plans, Rahman discussed initiatives including women&rsquo;s economic empowerment, a universal Family Card, a Krishak Card for farmers, grassroots healthcare workers, expatriate skill development, youth employment, and IT sector expansion.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;Half of the country&rsquo;s populations are women; development is impossible, leaving them behind,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The BNP chairman said, &quot;If we can form a government with the people&#39;s mandate in the upcoming elections, initiatives will be taken to make women economically self-reliant.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Speaking at an exchange of views with editors and journalists from national-level media outlets in Dhaka, the son of former Bangladeshi prime minister late Khaleda Zia said, 'Even if there are differences of opinion, they must be reduced through discussion. Differences should not escalate to the level of conflict.'

Differences must not escalate into conflict, says Bangladesh's Tarique Rahman

DHAKA:&nbsp;The heir to Bangladesh&#39;s longtime ruling family and a leader of its most powerful political party, Tarique Rahman, is set to return home after 17 years in exile and ahead of key elections. Rahman, 60, an aspiring prime minister who has lived in London since he fled Bangladesh in 2008 over what he called a politically motivated persecution, is due to arrive in Dhaka on Thursday. Acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), he is expected to take the reins from his ailing mother, 80-year-old former prime minister Khaleda Zia. Despite years of ill health and imprisonment, Zia vowed in November to campaign in the February 12, 2026, elections. But she was hospitalized soon after that pledge, and she has been in intensive care ever since. The elections will be the first since a mass uprising last year ended the 15-year hardline rule of&nbsp;Sheikh Hasina, who was at odds with the BNP. Since Hasina&#39;s fall from power, Rahman has been acquitted of the most serious charge against him: a life sentence handed down in absentia for a 2004 grenade attack on a Hasina rally.&nbsp; He had denied the charges. &lsquo;Fantastic day&rsquo;BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has promised Rahman will &ldquo;arrive among us on the soil of Dhaka&rdquo; on December 25, which he said will be a &ldquo;fantastic day.&rdquo; Rahman, often pictured beside his mother on BNP banners, has long been groomed for leadership. In June, he met in London with Muhammad Yunus, the 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner leading the interim government until the February elections. Rahman, known in Bangladesh as Tarique Zia, carries a political name that has defined his life. His father, Ziaur Rahman, was an army commander. Ziaur Rahman gained influence months after a 1975 coup in which Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s father -- founding leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was murdered. &lsquo;Battle of the Begums&rsquo;That fuelled lifelong tensions between the Zia and Hasina families, dubbed the &ldquo;Battle of the Begums&rdquo;&mdash;&ldquo;begum&rdquo; meaning a powerful woman. Ziaur Rahman was assassinated when his son was 15. The younger Rahman grew up in his mother&rsquo;s political orbit, as Zia went on to become the country&rsquo;s first female prime minister, alternating her terms in power with Hasina. Rahman briefly studied international relations at Dhaka University before entering politics at 23, joining the BNP in its fight against military ruler Hussain Muhammad Ershad, according to his party. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">&lsquo;Unnerves many&rsquo;&nbsp;</h2>Still, Rahman&rsquo;s career has been dogged by allegations of nepotism and mismanagement. A 2006 US embassy cable described him as the BNP&#39;s &ldquo;heir apparent&rdquo; who &ldquo;inspires few but unnerves many&rdquo;. Rahman was arrested on corruption charges in 2007 and claimed he was tortured in custody. Reports suggested his release was conditional on leaving politics.&nbsp; Freed later that year, he flew to London in 2008 for medical treatment and never returned. After Hasina swept to power in 2008, her government jailed tens of thousands of BNP members. In 2018, Rahman was again sentenced in absentia to life imprisonment for allegedly orchestrating the 2004 attack on Hasina&rsquo;s rally -- a case the BNP called a bid to eliminate the Zia dynasty from politics. In Britain, he kept a low profile alongside his wife, a cardiologist, and their daughter. Since Hasina&rsquo;s ouster, Rahman emerged as an outspoken figure on social media and a rallying point for BNP supporters.

Since Hasina's fall from power, Rahman has been acquitted of the most serious charge against him: a life sentence handed down in absentia for a 2004 grenade attack on a Hasina rally. 

Articles tagged with "BNP"

Younger Bangladesh voters primed for first post-Hasina election

EU to deploy large election observation mission to Bangladesh: State media

Social media use in Bangladesh surges ahead of February elections

Differences must not escalate into conflict, says Bangladesh's Tarique Rahman

Bangladesh political heavyweight Tarique Rahman to end exile

Younger Bangladesh voters primed for first post-Hasina election