Context:
Bangladesh is witnessing heightened political uncertainty following the death of Khaleda Zia (December 30) and the continued exile of Sheikh Hasina, who was deposed in a 2024 uprising and is currently in India. With general elections scheduled for February 12, 2026, the country faces instability, allegations of electoral unfairness, and concerns over the future of its secular constitutional order.
Key Highlights:
End of a Political Era
• Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s first woman Prime Minister, passed away, marking the end of a defining political chapter.
• The decades-long rivalry between Khaleda Zia (BNP) and Sheikh Hasina (Awami League) — termed the ‘Battle of the Begums’ — shaped Bangladesh’s post-1990 democratic politics.
Current Political Scenario
• Sheikh Hasina, deposed in 2024, remains in exile in India.
• Muhammad Yunus heads the interim government amid rising instability and political violence.
• The Awami League has been banned from political activity, raising concerns over inclusiveness of the electoral process.
Electoral Developments
• Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), returned from exile to consolidate party unity before the February 2026 elections.
• Allegations of electoral manipulation and questions regarding legitimacy due to the exclusion of major political actors.
Rise of Islamist Influence
• The National Citizen Party’s alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami has triggered concerns.
• Jamaat-e-Islami’s historical alignment with the Pakistani military during the 1971 Liberation War genocide remains controversial.
• Potential implications for Bangladesh’s secular constitutional framework.
Relevant Mains Points:
• Issue & Causes:
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Deep-rooted political rivalry.
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Weak institutionalization of democratic norms.
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Rising political polarization.
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Role of interim governance mechanisms.
• Benefits (if stable transition occurs):
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Opportunity for democratic reset.
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Institutional strengthening.
• Challenges:
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Electoral legitimacy crisis.
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Political violence.
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Risk of religious fundamentalism.
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Economic instability amid governance vacuum.
• Impact:
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Regional security implications.
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Possible refugee or migration pressures.
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Impact on India-Bangladesh relations.