Despite mounting security challenges, widespread anti-India protests, a contentious ban on the Awami League, and shifting geopolitical alliances, including warmer ties with Pakistan, the Yunus-led regime has reaffirmed its pledge to conduct free and fair elections in February 2026.
Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain’s assurances come as India raises alarms over more than 2,900 attacks on minorities since the regime change, while exiled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina decries the process as undemocratic. Meanwhile, seat-sharing talks between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami, and smaller allies are fraying, with unexpected concessions sparking internal rifts and ground-level tensions ahead of the polls.
The developments underscore a nation in flux following the August 2024 uprising that ousted Hasina’s long-ruling Awami League amid accusations of authoritarianism and election rigging. With the party now barred from contesting, the electoral landscape is dominated by opposition forces, but critics warn of deepening polarisation and potential instability in South Asia.
In a speech delivered at the inauguration of a voting vehicle program in Bhola on Saturday, Foreign Affairs Adviser Touhid Hossain emphasised the interim government’s “serious and full commitment” to ensuring a free, fair, and credible election. He highlighted the significance of the upcoming 13th Jatiya Sangsad polls, noting that no credible election has occurred since 2009, leaving millionsโparticularly young voters under 30โdeprived of their franchise.
“We want an election where people can cast their votes according to their will,” Hossain stated, pledging comprehensive support to the Election Commission for a conducive environment. He urged political parties to promote peaceful participation and warned that any disorder would be met with swift legal action, including suspension of voting at irregular centres.
Sheikh Hasina calls for united resistance against illegal regime, mobocracy
Journalist Masuda Bhatti decries how convicted Tarique Rahman became power broker
Bipartisan US lawmakers urge Yunus to reconsider ban on Awami League
Referencing the 2024 youth-led protests that led to regime change, Hossain acknowledged the sacrifices made for reform and claimed the government has pursued initiatives to reflect those aspirations, though not all could be fully realised. He reiterated the administration’s neutrality, urging voters to choose freely without favouritism toward any party.
The event, attended by local officials including Deputy Commissioner Dr. Shamim Rahman and Superintendent of Police Shahidullah Kawsar, aims to boost voter awareness amid ongoing security concerns. However, Hossain’s remarks have been overshadowed by recent violence and diplomatic spats, raising questions about the feasibility of peaceful polls.
India Sounds Alarm
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) expressed profound concern over the deteriorating situation in Bangladesh during its weekly briefing on December 26, documenting over 2,900 violent incidents against minoritiesโprimarily Hindus, but also Christians and Buddhistsโsince the interim government under Muhammad Yunus took power.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal condemned the “unremitting hostility” by extremists, specifically highlighting the lynching of Hindu youth Dipu Chandra Das in Mymensingh and Amrit Mandal in Rajbari following the December 18 death of Islamist leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
“These incidents cannot be brushed aside as mere media exaggerations or dismissed as political violence,” Jaiswal said, citing reports from the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council and independent organisations detailing killings, arsons, and land grabs. He urged Dhaka to prosecute perpetrators, stressing that law and order remain Bangladesh’s responsibility.
The briefing also reiterated India’s call for “free, fair, inclusive, and participatory elections,” signaling opposition to the Awami League’s exclusion. Jaiswal rejected “false narratives” in Bangladesh, accusing India of harbouring Hadi’s killers and Awami League leaders, amid protests targeting Indian missions and visa centres in Dhaka, Kolkata, Agartala, and Siliguri. Bangladesh summoned India’s envoy, Pranay Verma, in response, escalating the diplomatic row.
Brahma Chellaney slams Trump administration for Yunusโ immunity
Pankaj Saran critiques anti-India narrative and Islamist rise under Yunus
UK lawmakers urge Yunus to ensure inclusive elections amid growing concerns
Addressing the return of BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman from exile on December 25, Jaiswal framed it within India’s support for inclusive polls, without endorsing any faction. The MEA’s stance reflects broader anxieties about Bangladesh’s pivot toward Pakistan, including potential ISI involvement in stoking anti-India sentiment as retaliation for the 1971 war. Analysts warn this could disrupt India’s access to its northeastern states and heighten regional instability.
Sheikh Hasina Denounces Ban
From her exile in India, Sheikh Hasina has fiercely criticised the interim government’s decision to ban the Awami League, labelling the February 2026 elections a “coronation” rather than a genuine democratic exercise. In statements issued in December 2025, the former five-time prime minister accused the Yunus administration of empowering extremists and undermining Bangladesh’s secular foundations.
“An election without the Awami League is a coronation,” Sheikh Hasina declared recently, warning that millions of her supporters would boycott the polls if the ban persists. She blamed the regime for the surge in minority violence and strained India-Bangladesh ties, asserting that the “strain is entirely of Yunus’ making.” Hasina urged international observers to scrutinise the process, arguing that excluding her partyโpivotal in Bangladesh’s 1971 independenceโerodes credibility and invites Islamist influence.
Her comments echo concerns about the ban’s legality and fairness, with some reports suggesting Awami League members are quietly aligning with the BNP for survival.
Sheikh Hasina has also defended India’s role, stating it has never allowed its territory for anti-Bangladesh activities. Her exile, facilitated by Bangladesh’s military for her safety, has become a flashpoint, with Dhaka demanding her extradition amid what critics call politically motivated trials.
Seat-Sharing Negotiations
On the opposition front, negotiations for seat-sharing among the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and smaller parties are intensifying, but unexpected compromises are fueling internal tensions and ground-level discord. As the BNP positions itself as the frontrunner following Tarique Rahman’s return, allies are jostling for constituencies, leading to deadlocks and accusations of unfair deals.
Jamaat’s talks with partners like Islami Andolon Bangladesh have stalled, with the latter demanding 150 seats, far exceeding initial expectations. Meanwhile, the National Citizens Party (NCP) has shifted to direct negotiations with Jamaat after failed discussions with the BNP, signalling fractures in the broader alliance.
The BNP has conceded 10 additional seats to allies like the Jatiyatabadi Samamona Jote and others, aiming to placate demands, but this has sparked resentment among rank-and-file members who fear dilution of influence. Anonymous party leaders report “strains” in the new alliances, with smaller groups like Rastro Songskar Andolon and NCP forging independent pacts, potentially fragmenting votes.
These compromises, while pragmatic for coalition-building, have led to protests and clashes at local levels, exacerbating security concerns. Experts predict that unresolved disputes could undermine the opposition’s unity, benefiting hardline factions and complicating the interim government’s neutrality claims.
English 
Bengali