Today, **Thursday, February 12, 2026**, Bangladesh is holding its first general election since the 2024 "Monsoon Revolution." This landmark vote marks the end of an 18-month transition under the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.

### The Landscape of the 2026 Election

The 13th Parliamentary elections are being held for **299 out of 300** directly elected seats (voting in one constituency was postponed due to a candidate's death).

* **Bipolar Contest:** With the Awami League suspended from participating, the race has effectively become a showdown between the **Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)**, led by Tarique Rahman, and a powerful **11-party alliance** led by **Jamaat-e-Islami** and the **National Citizen Party (NCP)**.

* **The Referendum:** Uniquely, voters are also casting ballots in a simultaneous constitutional referendum on the "July Charter," a set of 84 reforms aimed at dismantling the previous autocratic structures.

* **Front-runners:** Opinion polls suggest an incredibly tight race. One major survey projected the BNP alliance at **44.1%** and the Jamaat-led bloc at **43.9%**.

### Security & Logistics

The Election Commission has implemented the most technologically advanced and heavily guarded voting process in the country's history.

* **Record Deployment:** Nearly **958,000 security personnel** are on duty, including over 100,000 army troops.

* **High-Tech Surveillance:** For the first time, the EC is using **drones (UAVs)**, 25,000 body-worn cameras on officers, and CCTV in over 90% of the 42,000+ polling stations.

* **Voter Turnout:** Approximately **127 million** people are eligible to vote. Early reports show high excitement among the "Gen Z" demographic, who are voting for the first time after leading the 2024 protests.

### Key Issues at Stake

Beyond the political rivalry, the election is being decided on bread-and-butter issues:

1. **Corruption:** Both major blocs have made anti-graft pledges the center of their campaigns.

2. **Economy:** With inflation at roughly **8.58%**, voters are demanding relief from rising food and fuel costs.

3. **Governance:** A primary campaign promise from the BNP includes a **10-year cap** on how long any individual can serve as Prime Minister.

### What’s Next?

* **Polling Hours:** Voting began at 7:30 AM and is scheduled to close at **4:30 PM local time**.

* **Results:** Counting begins immediately after polls close. While early trends are expected by midnight, the official final results are anticipated on the morning of **Friday, February 13**.

Would you like me to keep an eye on the results as they trickle in later tonight?