Bangladesh Votes in Historic Election

Bangladesh held its first election since the ousting of Sheikh Hasina's two-decade rule, with vote counting underway on February 12, 2026, according to Al Jazeera. The election, which saw 127 million eligible voters participating, comes 18 months after a student-led movement ended Hasina's government, as reported by Al Jazeera. Alliances led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) were vying for the most seats in the national assembly, Al Jazeera noted.

The election was a landmark event for the country, as highlighted by BBC Business. NPR Politics reported that the election featured a woman who had risen to prominence fighting against the former Prime Minister's government, now competing against a man she once defended. Security was heightened ahead of the election, as mentioned by Al Jazeera.

The election's significance was further underscored by the context of the political landscape. The election followed a period of significant upheaval, with the student-led movement playing a pivotal role in the change of government, as detailed by Al Jazeera. The outcome of the election was expected to shape the future of Bangladesh, with the BNP and JI alliances seeking to gain control of the national assembly.

While the election dominated headlines, other news stories were also unfolding. Sky News reported on a school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, Canada, and BBC Business highlighted concerns from the hospitality and leisure industries regarding a proposed tourist tax in England. Additionally, a study from Cardiff University, as reported by Phys.org, indicated that ambitious climate action could save 1.32 million lives a year by 2040.