Dhaka Election Live Updates: BNP’s Tariq Rahman, who returned to Bangladesh in December, is facing Jamaat-e-Islami candidate SM Khaliduzzaman in Dhaka-17.
Dhaka Election Live Updates: As Bangladesh goes to the polls on Thursday, February 12, nowhere is the fight being watched more closely than in the capital Dhaka, where there are 20 constituencies. Among them, Dhaka-17 has drawn special interest as Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) president Tariq Rahman – son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia – is contesting the elections after returning from 17 years of self-exile.
Rahman, who returned to Bangladesh in December, is contesting from Jamaat-e-Islami candidate SM Khaliduzzaman in Dhaka-17. The constituency has 333,777 voters, of which 174,709 are male, 159,060 female, making it one of the major urban battlegrounds of the capital.
A total of 1,981 candidates are in the fray across Bangladesh, of which only 78 are women, 17 of whom are contesting from Dhaka. However, in the absence of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, the overall contest is largely seen as a face-off between the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.
More than 127 million eligible voters, including nearly 50 lakh first-time voters, are going to decide the future of the country of 170 million people. Voting is being held on 299 out of 300 parliamentary seats, voting has been postponed due to the death of one candidate.
high security blanket in dhaka
Given the political importance of Dhaka, security arrangements are extensive in the capital. Police said they have submitted a list of at-risk polling stations to the Election Commission (EC), which lists 1,614 of Dhaka’s 2,131 polling stations as unsafe. However, the army said it had identified two centers in Dhaka city as “risky”, a report by news agency PTI said.
Nearly 90 percent of polling stations in the capital are under CCTV surveillance, Dhaka Tribune reported quoting officials.
Nationwide, the Election Commission has deployed nearly one million security personnel, the largest mobilization in the country’s electoral history. Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam outlined a three-tier security arrangement, which includes static forces, mobile patrolling teams and quick reaction teams at polling stations.
He said 1,57,805 police personnel would be engaged in primary election security duties, who would be supported by 29,798 additional officers, taking the total police deployment to 1,87,603.
First election without Sheikh Hasina
This is the first general election in decades without Hasina, who resigned after the 2024 student-led rebellion and now lives in exile in India.
The 13th parliamentary elections are being held alongside a national referendum on an 84-point reform package, including proposals for term limits for the prime minister and stronger institutional checks on executive power.
‘Birthday of new Bangladesh’
The election comes 18 months after mass protests that ended the Awami League’s dominance and propelled Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus into the leadership role. In a televised address, Chief Adviser Yunus urged citizens to consider election day as the “birthday of a new Bangladesh” and said their participation would decide the direction of the country, the AP reported.
As well as choosing MPs, voters will also consider a reform blueprint proposing constitutional and institutional safeguards against concentration of power, called the July National Charter.
For the first time, Bangladeshi citizens living abroad are also able to vote through the postal ballot system, increasing participation among the country’s large expatriate population.
The results are expected to be declared on Friday, February 13.
Dhaka’s high-stakes election battle: 10 points
1. Voting will take place without any interruption from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. Officials say that logistical preparations have been completed and ballot papers are being distributed under tight security. The capital is a major battleground with 20 constituencies and 2,131 polling stations.
2. Police identified 1,614 of these as risk-potential and shared the list with the Election Commission, while the army said it identified two centers in Dhaka city as “risky”.
3. According to the Dhaka Tribune report quoting officials, about 90 percent of the polling stations in the capital are under CCTV surveillance to prevent violence and malpractices.
4. BNP president Tariq Rahman, son of late former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is contesting from Dhaka-17 after returning from 17 years of self-exile. He is pitted against Jamaat-e-Islami candidate SM Khaliduzzaman in one of the most watched contests in the capital.
5. The Dhaka constituency has 333,777 voters, including 174,709 men, 159,060 women and eight Hijra voters, reflecting the diverse urban electorate in the capital.
6. Nationwide, 1,981 candidates are in the fray (1,755 from 50 registered parties and 273 independents). In total there are only 78 women. Of these, 17 are contesting from Dhaka.
7. This is the first parliamentary election in July 2024 after the student-led rebellion that led to Sheikh Hasina’s ouster from power and exile in India.
8. Hasina’s Awami League has been dissolved, making it mainly a direct contest between the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami and its 11-party alliance.
9. Over 127 million eligible voters, including nearly 5 million first-time voters, are voting across 299 seats. For the first time, migrants will be able to vote through postal ballot.
10. About 500 foreign observers are present; ANI reported that 394 international observers and 197 foreign journalists have arrived to monitor the 13th general elections of Bangladesh.
…read more
Rahman, who returned to Bangladesh in December, is contesting from Jamaat-e-Islami candidate SM Khaliduzzaman in Dhaka-17. The constituency has 333,777 voters, of which 174,709 are male, 159,060 female, making it one of the major urban battlegrounds of the capital.
A total of 1,981 candidates are in the fray across Bangladesh, of which only 78 are women, 17 of whom are contesting from Dhaka. However, in the absence of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, the overall contest is largely seen as a face-off between the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.
More than 127 million eligible voters, including nearly 50 lakh first-time voters, are going to decide the future of the country of 170 million people. Voting is being held on 299 out of 300 parliamentary seats, voting has been postponed due to the death of one candidate.
high security blanket in dhaka
Given the political importance of Dhaka, security arrangements are extensive in the capital. Police said they have submitted a list of at-risk polling stations to the Election Commission (EC), which lists 1,614 of Dhaka’s 2,131 polling stations as unsafe. However, the army said it had identified two centers in Dhaka city as “risky”, a report by news agency PTI said.
Nearly 90 percent of polling stations in the capital are under CCTV surveillance, Dhaka Tribune reported quoting officials.
Nationwide, the Election Commission has deployed nearly one million security personnel, the largest mobilization in the country’s electoral history. Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam outlined a three-tier security arrangement, which includes static forces, mobile patrolling teams and quick reaction teams at polling stations.
He said 1,57,805 police personnel would be engaged in primary election security duties, who would be supported by 29,798 additional officers, taking the total police deployment to 1,87,603.
First election without Sheikh Hasina
This is the first general election in decades without Hasina, who resigned after the 2024 student-led rebellion and now lives in exile in India.
The 13th parliamentary elections are being held alongside a national referendum on an 84-point reform package, including proposals for term limits for the prime minister and stronger institutional checks on executive power.
‘Birthday of new Bangladesh’
The election comes 18 months after mass protests that ended the Awami League’s dominance and propelled Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus into the leadership role. In a televised address, Chief Adviser Yunus urged citizens to consider election day as the “birthday of a new Bangladesh” and said their participation would decide the direction of the country, the AP reported.
As well as choosing MPs, voters will also consider a reform blueprint proposing constitutional and institutional safeguards against concentration of power, called the July National Charter.
For the first time, Bangladeshi citizens living abroad are also able to vote through the postal ballot system, increasing participation among the country’s large expatriate population.
The results are expected to be declared on Friday, February 13.
Dhaka’s high-stakes election battle: 10 points
1. Voting will take place without any interruption from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. Officials say that logistical preparations have been completed and ballot papers are being distributed under tight security. The capital is a major battleground with 20 constituencies and 2,131 polling stations.
2. Police identified 1,614 of these as risk-potential and shared the list with the Election Commission, while the army said it identified two centers in Dhaka city as “risky”.
3. According to the Dhaka Tribune report quoting officials, about 90 percent of the polling stations in the capital are under CCTV surveillance to prevent violence and malpractices.
4. BNP president Tariq Rahman, son of late former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is contesting from Dhaka-17 after returning from 17 years of self-exile. He is pitted against Jamaat-e-Islami candidate SM Khaliduzzaman in one of the most watched contests in the capital.
5. The Dhaka constituency has 333,777 voters, including 174,709 men, 159,060 women and eight Hijra voters, reflecting the diverse urban electorate in the capital.
6. Nationwide, 1,981 candidates are in the fray (1,755 from 50 registered parties and 273 independents). In total there are only 78 women. Of these, 17 are contesting from Dhaka.
7. This is the first parliamentary election in July 2024 after the student-led rebellion that led to Sheikh Hasina’s ouster from power and exile in India.
8. Hasina’s Awami League has been dissolved, making it mainly a direct contest between the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami and its 11-party alliance.
9. Over 127 million eligible voters, including nearly 5 million first-time voters, are voting across 299 seats. For the first time, migrants will be able to vote through postal ballot.
10. About 500 foreign observers are present; ANI reported that 394 international observers and 197 foreign journalists have arrived to monitor the 13th general elections of Bangladesh.
Follow all updates here:
February 12, 2026 6:01:34 am First
Dhaka Election Live Updates: What time will voting start in Bangladesh?
Dhaka Election Live Updates: Voting for the 13th parliamentary election of Bangladesh will begin at 7:30 am local time across the country including the capital Dhaka. Officials have confirmed that voting will continue without interruption until 4:30 pm, giving voters the entire day to cast their votes.
Officials say preparations have been completed and 42,779 polling stations have been set up across the country to serve more than 127 million eligible voters. Voters will choose representatives for 299 of the 300 parliamentary seats, with one seat postponed due to the death of a candidate.
February 12, 2026 5:55:11 am First
Dhaka election live updates: Voting to be held amid tight security at 2,131 polling stations in Dhaka
Dhaka Election Live Updates: 42,779 polling stations have been set up across the country. In the capital alone, there are 2,131 polling stations, of which the police identified 1,614 as at-risk and shared the list with the Election Commission (EC). However, the army said it had identified two centers in Dhaka city as “risky”, according to news agency PTI.
February 12, 2026 5:50:11 am First
Dhaka election live updates: Voting begins at 7:30 am in Bangladesh
Dhaka Election Live Updates: Voting for Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election will begin at 7:30 am local time and will continue uninterrupted till 4:30 pm, with officials stressing that all logistical arrangements have been finalised.
Officials confirmed that ballot papers were distributed at polling stations on Wednesday amid tight security as Dhaka comes under special focus.
