Campaigning starts for Bangladesh's first national election after Hasina's ouster

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Campaigning began Thursday for Bangladesh’s first national elections since the 2024 uprising that ousted longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The major political parties held campaign rallies in the capital, Dhaka, and elsewhere ahead of Feb. 12 election, which is seen as the most consequential in Bangladesh’s history as it follows Hasina's ouster and is being held under an interim government with voters also deciding on proposed political reforms.

The interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus has pledged to hold a free and fair election, but questions were raised after his administration banned Hasina’s former ruling Awami League party. The Awami League and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party have historically dominated the country’s electorate.

There are also concerns about the country's law and order situation, but the government says they will keep the voting peaceful.

Yunus assumed office three days after Hasina left the country for India on Aug. 5, 2024, following the deaths of hundreds of protesters and others in a violent crackdown.

With the Awami League excluded from the election, a 10-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist party, is seeking to expand its influence. Jamaat-e-Islami has long faced criticism from secular groups who say its positions challenge Bangladesh’s secular foundations. A new party formed by student leaders of the uprising, the National Citizen Party, or NCP, is also part of the alliance.

Tarique Rahman, BNP chairman and the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is widely seen as a leading contender for prime minister. His party has drawn strong support rooted in the political legacy of his mother, who died last month. Rahman returned to Bangladesh last month after 17 years in exile in the United Kingdom.

Rahman launched his campaign in the northeastern city of Sylhet with an address to thousands of supporters at a rally Thursday. He is scheduled to visit several other districts in the coming days.

In Sylhet, Rahman criticized the Jamaat-e-Islami party for using religious sentiment to get votes. He said that if elected, he would uphold national sovereignty and work for women and young people.

“Now we must establish the right to vote, rebuild the nation, and make it economically self-reliant,” he said.

Jamaat-e-Islami and the NCP began their campaigns in the capital, Dhaka.

“There are terrorism (crimes), extortion, corruption and forcible possession, (our fight) is against them to establish a just Bangladesh, and alongside to build a safe Dhaka for women and children," said Nasiruddin Patwari, a leader of the National Citizen Party.

The election will also include a referendum on a national charter, with the interim government seeking voter support for what it describes as a new political course built on reforms. The charter was signed last year by 25 of the country’s 52 registered political parties. The Awami League opposed the idea and several other parties declined to sign the document.

Rahman's return has reenergized his supporters.

“Under his leadership, in the coming time we want to see a self-reliant Bangladesh and organizing this country through a democratic process," said Ali Akbar Rajan, a BNP supporter, at Rahman’s rally in Sylhet. "He will emerge as a successful statesman, that is what we hope for,"

The July National Charter, named after the uprising that began in July 2024 and led to the fall of Hasina, is currently nonbinding. Supporters of the charter say a referendum is needed to make it legally binding and a part of the constitution. Only Parliament can change the constitution in Bangladesh.

The interim government says the charter would bring more checks and balances to avoid authoritarian administrations, including by giving the presidency more authority to balance what had been a powerful prime minister position. It also proposes term limits for legislators, and measures to prevent conflicts of interest, money laundering and corruption.

Tarique Rahman, the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), addresses a campaign rally ahead of next month's national elections, in Sylhet, Bangladesh, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Anis Mahmud)

Supporters of Bangladesh's National Citizen Party hold a campaign rally ahead of next month's national elections in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Supporters of Bangladesh's National Citizen Party hold a campaign rally ahead of next month's national elections in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Supporters of Bangladesh's National Citizen Party hold a campaign rally ahead of next month's national elections in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Supporters of Bangladesh's National Citizen Party hold a campaign rally ahead of next month's national elections in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Head of Bangladesh's interim government Muhammad Yunus, center, looks at an exhibit during the inauguration of the July Uprising Memorial Museum, once the official residence of Bangladesh's ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Head of Bangladesh's interim government Muhammad Yunus, second right, with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party leader Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, second left, watch an audio visual during the inauguration of the July Uprising Memorial Museum, once the official residence of Bangladesh's ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Head of Bangladesh's interim government Muhammad Yunus, center, with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party leader Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, center left, looks at an exhibit during the inauguration of the July Uprising Memorial Museum, once the official residence of Bangladesh's ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Head of Bangladesh's interim government Muhammad Yunus, center, with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami party leader Ameer Shafiqur Rahman, inaugurate the July Uprising Memorial Museum, once the official residence of Bangladesh's ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

JERUSALEM (AP) — Several countries have said they will join U.S. President Donald Trump's Board of Peace, while a few European nations have declined their invitations. Many have not yet responded to Trump's invites.

Chaired by Trump, the board was originally envisioned as a small group of world leaders overseeing the Gaza ceasefire plan. But the Trump administration’s ambitions have since expanded, with Trump extending invitations to dozens of nations and hinting at the board’s future role as conflict mediator.

A White House official has said about 30 countries were expected to join the board, without providing details, while about 50 had been invited.

Here is a tally by The Associated Press on what countries are joining, which are not and which are undecided.

— Argentina

— Armenia

— Azerbaijan

— Bahrain

— Belarus

— Egypt

— Hungary

— Indonesia

— Jordan

— Kazakhstan

— Kosovo

— Morocco

— Pakistan

— Qatar

— Saudi Arabia

— Turkey

— United Arab Emirates

— Uzbekistan

— Vietnam

— France

— Norway

— Slovenia

— Sweden

— Britain

— Cambodia

— China

— Croatia

— Germany

— India

— Italy

— The European Union's executive arm

— Paraguay

— Russia

— Singapore

— Ukraine

Palestinian women line up to receive donated food at a community kitchen in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Young Palestinians play volleyball at a tent camp sheltering displaced families in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Palestinian women receive donated food at a community kitchen in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)