Bangladesh votes!

This February, Bangladesh will hold its first democratic election in 15 years. But what will the return of democracy mean for the future of the country?

Photo of women in queue to vote.

Photo: Xinhua/Sipa USA

In July 2024, Sheikh Hasina, the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, was forced into exile by a student-led popular uprising. Similar uprisings have taken place elsewhere, most notably in Nepal and Madagascar, with students and Generation Z youth mobilising on social media against sitting governments.?

In light of the return of democratic elections to Bangladesh this year, we discuss the prospects of the fledgling student party and what happened to the revolutionary glow; where Awami League voters are likely to go; the outcome of the power struggle between the old giant, the nationalist BNP, and its Islamist challengers in the Jamaat; and how the Islamists will fare and what their potential success holds for the country.?

We also discuss how the run-up to the election has unfolded, the violence and unrest, and what it promises for the country’s democratic future.

Panelists:

  • Nazifa Jannat Marzia, student leader, Dhaka
  • Masudur Rahman, professor, Nord University
  • Tone Bleie, professor, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway
  • Arild Engelsen Ruud, professor, University of Oslo
  • Marte Nilsen, senior researcher, Prio (Q&A moderator)

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Published Jan. 12, 2026 9:59 AM - Last modified Feb. 2, 2026 10:20 AM