Bangladesh’s interim government has announced that a national election will be held in February 2026. However, there are growing doubts about whether this election will take place as scheduled. Some political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP), have demanded reforms and want changes to the electoral system before holding a vote. This has created uncertainty about the upcoming national polls. While the BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) supports holding elections in February, parties close to the interim government oppose an immediate vote. Some smaller Islamic parties are also against holding elections now. Meanwhile, the Awami League, one of the major parties in Bangladesh, remains banned by the interim government, further complicating the political landscape.
The recent results of student union elections have added another layer of complexity. On 9 September 2025, Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, won a landslide victory in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) election. Historically, Dhaka University has been a key stage for political movements in Bangladesh. This victory has strengthened Jamaat-e-Islami’s position and given it more influence over national politics. The BNP’s student wing, Chhatra Dal, finished second, securing less than a third of Shibir’s votes. While some leaders from Chhatra Dal and the BNP congratulated Shibir, others raised concerns about alleged irregularities and administrative bias during the elections.
At Jahangirnagar University, tensions rose further when Chhatra Dal alleged interference from the administration and support for Shibir during the student union election. Complaints about irregularities led Chhatra Dal to announce a boycott of the election before it ended. Social media videos also showed Chhatra Dal candidates leaving the campus under protection to avoid potential violence. These student elections have heightened worries about fairness and transparency in the upcoming national elections.
The victory of Jamaat’s student wing has not only strengthened its influence but also affected discussions around the timing of elections. Jamaat-e-Islami’s secretary general stated that national elections should be delayed until certain legal protections, known as the July Charter, are implemented and the electoral system is reformed. This aligns with the party’s broader strategy to push for proportional representation and other electoral changes before holding national polls.
Muhammad Yunus, head of the interim government, has also highlighted the importance of local government elections as part of decentralisation. He suggested that local polls should happen before national elections to ensure that governance is more effective and representative. Before taking office, Yunus was advised by student leaders of the July Movement to prioritise local elections. Jamaat-e-Islami supported this view, while the BNP wanted national elections first. Yunus’ repeated emphasis on local polls signals that decentralisation and grassroots elections remain a priority for the interim government, even as national elections approach.
Bangladesh’s political history shows that governments outside the constitutional order often hold local elections first. Local contests allow these governments to build influence, ensure the success of their preferred candidates, and consolidate power at the grassroots level. Once a strong base is established, these parties can then enter national elections and push for constitutional changes to strengthen their legitimacy. The BNP itself grew through such a process, giving it insight into the potential strategies of other political groups.
The recent student elections indicate that Jamaat-e-Islami may be trying to establish independence from the BNP while increasing its influence through local and university-level victories. This development, combined with calls for electoral reforms and decentralisation, is creating uncertainty about whether the national election will take place as scheduled. Analysts note that Bangladesh is entering a more complex political phase, where local polls, student elections, and constitutional reforms may play a significant role in shaping the next national election.
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In conclusion, while the February 2026 national election has been announced, doubts persist. Jamaat-e-Islami’s student wing success, demands for electoral reforms, and Yunus’ focus on local governance suggest that the political landscape in Bangladesh is highly uncertain. Local elections may set the stage for national polls, and parties like Jamaat-e-Islami are using this time to strengthen their position. As a result, citizens and political observers alike are watching closely to see whether the national election will proceed smoothly or face delays due to political negotiations and strategic moves by different parties.
The recent events at Dhaka and Jahangirnagar universities, along with the ongoing debate over local versus national polls, show that Bangladesh’s politics is entering a stage of strategic realignment. Parties are carefully planning their moves, student elections are increasingly seen as indicators of political strength, and the role of the interim government remains central. The February election, though officially scheduled, is now part of a larger and more complicated political story.
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