Heavy Security for Bangladesh Elections Today; India Closely Watches Outcome

The BNP, led by Tarique Rahman, son of former president Ziaur Rahman and late former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, is locked in a close contest with Jamaat-e-Islami. Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League was banned last year by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus after she left Dhaka in August 2024 following mass protests.

Pre-poll surveys cited by news agencies indicate that the BNP is the frontrunner and that Rahman is positioned to emerge as prime minister if the party secures a majority.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed condolences in December on the death of Zia. “Deeply saddened to learn about the passing away of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia in Dhaka. Our sincerest condolences to her family and all the people of Bangladesh. May the Almighty grant her family the fortitude to bear this tragic loss. As the first woman Prime Minister of Bangladesh, her important contributions towards the development of Bangladesh, as well as India-Bangladesh relations, will always be remembered. I recall my warm meeting with her in Dhaka in 2015. We hope that her vision and legacy will continue to guide our partnership. May her soul rest in peace,” he posted on X. External affairs minister S. Jaishankar attended her funeral in Dhaka and handed over a condolence letter from the Prime Minister to Mr Rahman.

Relations between New Delhi and the BNP were previously marked by strains, partly due to India’s perceived proximity to the Awami League. With political shifts in Dhaka and India’s expanded economic role, observers see the possibility of a recalibration in ties if the BNP assumes office. India has criticised the interim government over attacks on minorities and noted what it described as a “troubling tendency” to attribute such incidents to extraneous reasons.

The Bangladesh Election Commission has deployed nearly one million security personnel, the largest such mobilisation in the country’s electoral history. More than half of the 42,659 polling centres have been identified as risk-prone. Police said 24,000 centres were categorised as high or moderate risk, including 1,614 of 2,131 centres in Dhaka. The Army, however, identified two centres in the capital as risky.

For the first time, unmanned aerial vehicles, drones and body-worn cameras are being used to monitor polling. Around 25,000 body-worn cameras will be deployed, while over 90 per cent of polling centres are under CCTV surveillance.

Voting will be held from 7.30 am to 4.30 pm across 299 constituencies. Polling in one constituency has been cancelled following the death of a candidate. A total of 1,755 candidates from 50 political parties and 273 independents are in the fray. The BNP has fielded 291 candidates, the highest among parties. There are 83 female candidates.

Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin said all arrangements had been made to ensure a free and fair poll. “The election will be completed as promised to the people,” he said, adding that representatives from 45 countries and organisations were observing the process.

Nearly 127.7 million voters are eligible to cast their ballots, with first-time voters accounting for 3.58 per cent. For the first time, around eight lakh expatriate Bangladeshis registered with the Election Commission will be able to vote through an IT-based postal ballot system.