NEW DELHI,12 Feb 2026 : Bangladesh’s election landscape has undergone a dramatic shift. A country once defined by powerful female leaders like Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia now sees women nearly absent from the ballot – just 4% of candidates nationwide, many merely placeholders linked to male politicians.
From Islamist parties banning women outright to major parties offering only token nominations, the 2026 polls mark a stark retreat for women’s political representation and raise urgent questions about the future of gender equality in Bangladeshi politics.
There was a big voter turnout in Dhaka as Jamaat-BJP battle defines the Bangladesh election day on Thursday.
Clashes were reported between Jamaat and BNP supporters in the first election after the Gen-Z uprising.
Picture credit social media
