Bangladesh Train Stations Overflow As Voters Rush Home For February 12 Poll | Watch

Last Updated:February 11, 2026, 14:19 IST

The February 12 vote will be Bangladesh’s first general election since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in August 2024 after massive student-led protests.

Thousands of voters in Dhaka crowded railway station and boarded trains to return to their hometowns ahead of the Bangladesh general elections. Visuals showed people sitting on trains, stations packed with passengers, and many trying to board already overcrowded coaches.

The February 12 vote will be Bangladesh’s first general election since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in August 2024 after massive student-led protests.

Since Sheikh Hasina’s removal, Bangladesh has been led by interim chief Muhammad Yunus. The past months have been tense, marked by large protests, clashes in several areas, and damage to public property.

Thousands of Bangladeshi voters in Dhaka flocked onto trains to return to their hometowns ahead of the upcoming general elections. The February 12 vote will be the country’s first since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted in 2024 pic.twitter.com/BM7CRCY6Sd— TRT World (@trtworld) February 11, 2026

Polling and results schedule

Polling will be held on February 12 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Counting of votes will begin soon after 4 pm. The Bangladesh Election Commission will announce the official results on the morning of February 13, as counting is completed.

Parties in the fray

Bangladesh Party (BNP)

Led by Tarique Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. The BNP has announced 288 candidates and, along with allies and independents, plans to contest all 300 seats.

Jamaat’s 11-party alliance

Headed by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. It includes Bangladesh Khelafar Majlis, Citizen Party, Amar Bangladesh Party, Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Labour Party, Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan, Liberal Democratic Party, Nizam-e-Islam Party, Bangladesh Development Party, and Jatiya Ganotantrik Party. The alliance will contest 298 seats.

Islami Andolan Bangladesh

Led by Syed Rezaul Karim since 2008. The party will field candidates in 253 seats.

Democratic Front

Led by the Jatiya Party (Ershad). It has put forward 206 candidates. Jatiya Party (Ershad) will contest 195 seats, Bangladesh Sangskritik Muktijodha Party 20 seats, Bangladesh Muslim League 17 seats, and Jatiya Party (Manju) 10 seats.

Democratic United Front

Includes the Communist Party of Bangladesh, the Social Party of Bangladesh, the Socialist Party of Bangladesh (Marxist), and the Bangladesh Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal. It will contest 149 seats.

Greater Sunni Alliance

Led by the Bangladesh Islami Front. It has 26 candidates and will contest 64 seats. Bangladesh Supreme Party and Islamic Front Bangladesh will each contest 19 seats.

How the parliament is formed?

Bangladesh’s Parliament, the Jatiya Sangsad, has 350 members. Of these, 300 are elected directly by voters. The remaining 50 seats are reserved for women and are filled later by the elected MPs based on party strength.

To form the government, a party or alliance must win at least 151 of the 300 directly elected seats.

In recent years, the Awami League has dominated Dhaka. In the 2014, 2018, and 2024 elections, it won nearly all of the city’s 20 seats. In 2008, it won 18 seats, while in 2001 the BNP-led alliance held a strong majority.

News world Bangladesh Train Stations Overflow As Voters Rush Home For February 12 Poll | Watch

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