The Inquiry What does the national election mean for the future of Bangladesh?
Feb 3, 2026
Constantino Xavier, an India-Bangladesh relations expert; Rounaq Jahan, a scholar of Bangladesh’s democratic institutions; Zia Chowdhury, a Dhaka-based political reporter; and Shaheen Mamun, a think-tank director in London. They discuss the fallout from Sheikh Hasina’s ousting, Tarique Rahman’s return and BNP’s promises. Conversations cover the two-party dynastic rivalry, prospects for free votes, institutional rebuilding and India’s strategic calculations.
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Two Dynasties Shaped Bangladesh Politics
- Bangladesh's politics have long been dominated by two dynastic parties alternating power since independence in 1971.
- The upcoming 2026 election is the first fully democratic vote since 2008 and could reset that entrenched system.
Student Uprising Toppled The Regime
- A student uprising in 2024 sparked a nationwide non-cooperation movement that toppled Sheikh Hasina's decade-long rule.
- Shaheen Mamun recounts protesters swelling into hundreds of thousands and Hasina fleeing to India in August 2024.
Tariq Rahman's Comeback Redefines BNP
- Tariq Rahman returned from 17 years in exile and emerged as the popular front-runner to lead the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
- Zia Chowdhury notes his exile and comeback have reshaped public perception of him as a stabilising figure.