Bangladesh’s first post-uprising elections are a test of democratic standards and minority rights

Dhaka, Bangladesh– Dhaka, Bangladesh (AFP) – Bangladeshis Voters will cast their votes today, Thursday, in decisive national elections, the first since the popular uprising that ended the former president’s 15-year rule. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Public expectations are growing that voting could help reset democratic norms after more than a decade of contested elections and shrinking political space.

The transition process is being overseen by an interim administration led by a Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, Which pledged to hold a fair vote.

Here’s what to know about ballot boxes in Bangladesh.

More than 127 million people will participate in the election of a new parliament Eligible voters In a country of about 170 million people, 1,981 candidates are vying for parliamentary seats nationwide. The Yunus-led administration has stated that it is committed to holding free, fair and peaceful elections. To help ensure this, about 500 foreign observers will attend, including from the European Union and other countries CommonwealthTo which Bangladesh belongs.

The vote also introduces a major procedural change. Bangladeshi citizens living abroad will be able to participate through the postal voting system for the first time. This step aims to expand electoral participation by including the large number of expatriates in the country.

Bangladesh’s national legislature has 350 legislators. Of these, 300 are directly elected from single-member constituencies, while an additional 50 seats are reserved for women. Elections are held under a majority system, and each parliament serves a term of five years.

The elections will also include a referendum on political reforms that include term limits for the prime minister, stronger controls on executive power and other safeguards that prevent the consolidation of parliamentary power.

Whether this process succeeds in achieving real institutional reform or continues to shore up existing power structures, it will shape Bangladesh’s internal stability, which has been characterized by periods of military rule and weak democratic structures since its independence from Pakistan in 1971.

“Bangladesh’s future is in the hands of its citizens and its elected leaders to ensure the country’s stability as a rights-respecting democracy,” said Katherine Cooper, staff attorney at Robert Court. & Ethel Kennedy Center for Human Rights.

She said it was crucial that the newly elected government “prioritize and protect civic space, allowing civil society, the press, the political opposition and all citizens to speak without fear of repression.”

The election results will also serve as an important test of whether popular youth protest movements can translate into lasting democratic change. Nearly 5 million people are new voters and will be casting their ballots for the first time.

For decades, Bangladesh’s political landscape has revolved around two rival dynasties. On the one hand there is the Awami League, which is led by Hasina, the daughter of the country’s founding president. He is opposed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which he now leads Tariq RahmanSon of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia . from He died in December.

with Awami League is bannedThe Bangladesh Nationalist Party emerged as the favorite, making Rahman the main candidate.

Rahman returned to Bangladesh in December after 17 years in self-imposed exile and promised to rebuild democratic institutions, restore the rule of law and revive the economy.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party faces a broad coalition of 11 parties led by Islamists Islamic groupWhich seeks to expand its influence in national politics. Jemaah Islamiyah was banned under Hasina but has gained influence since her ouster.

The alliance also includes newly formed members National Citizen PartyCreated by the leaders of the 2024 uprising.

The elections will be the first since the overthrow of Hasina, who now lives in exile in India. She was He was sentenced to death In absentia last year by a special court under the administration led by Yunus. The charges against her relate to crimes against humanity over the killing of hundreds of people during the 2024 uprising.

Hasina denounced the trial and described the court as a “show court.” in interview In an interview with the Associated Press from her exile in India, she denounced the decision to exclude her party from participating in the elections.

During Hasina’s rule, the elections were widely criticized by opposition parties and human rights groups as lacking credibility.

An increasingly pressing concern in Bangladesh is the rising emergence of militant groups. Their influence has raised alarms about women’s rights and safety Religious minorities. Minority communities, especially Hindus, are reporting an increase in intimidation and incidents of violence, deepening concerns about their place in the Muslim-majority country.

There are growing fears that the Islamic coalition will exploit these tensions to reassert its political influence.

Bangladesh is more than 90% Muslim, while about 8% are Hindu.