Polls open for Bangladesh’s first election since the 2024 uprising that ousted Hasina

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Polls opened across Bangladesh on Thursday for voters to cast ballots in a parliamentary election seen as a critical test of the country’s democracy after years of political turmoil.

More than 127 million people are eligible to vote, and security was tight at the tens of thousands of polling stations around the country. Balloting will continue through Thursday with results expected Friday.

The election is Bangladesh’s first since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government collapsed in 2024 after weeks of mass protests. Hasina fled the country and her party is banned from the polls. She is living in exile in India.

Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party is a leading contender to form the next government. He is the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and returned to Bangladesh in December after 17 years in self-exile in London. Rahman has pledged to rebuild democratic institutions, restore the rule of law and revive the struggling economy.

Challenging the BNP is an 11-party alliance led by the Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s largest Islamist party, which was banned under Hasina but has gained prominence since her removal. The conservative religious group’s growing influence has fueled concern among many voters, particularly women and minority communities, who fear social freedoms could come under pressure if they come to power.

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

The vote is taking place under an interim government headed by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, which has said it is committed to delivering a credible and transparent election. As part of that effort, around 500 international observers and foreign journalists will be present, including delegations from the European Union and the Commonwealth, to which Bangladesh belongs.

Bangladesh’s Parliament has 350 seats, including 300 elected directly from single-member constituencies and 50 reserved for women. Lawmakers are chosen by plurality and the parliament serves a five-year term. The Election Commission recently postponed voting in one constituency after a candidate died.

The election could reshape the domestic stability of Bangladesh, a country whose post-1971 history since gaining independence from Pakistan has been marked by entrenched political parties, military coups and allegations of vote rigging. Young voters, many of whom played a central role in the 2024 uprising, are expected to be influential. Some 5 million first-time voters are eligible.

The election will also include a referendum for political reforms that include prime ministerial term limits, stronger checks on executive power and other safeguards preventing parliamentary power consolidation.

Voters wait in line outside a polling center to cast their ballots during the national parliamentary elections in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Voters wait in line outside a polling center to cast their ballots during the national parliamentary elections in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

Bangladeshi people stand in queue to cast their votes in a polling station during national parliamentary election in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

An army official announces to the voters to maintain discipline in a polling station during national parliamentary election in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Bangladeshi women stand in queue to cast their votes in a polling station during national parliamentary election in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

People ride on three wheelers on a street ahead of Thursday's national parliamentary election, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

Security personnel arrive to collect ballot boxes and voting materials at a distribution centre ahead of Thursday's national parliamentary election, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

An official stands near ballot boxes and voting papers before its distribution to various polling centers ahead of Thursday's national parliamentary election, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)

HANOI, Vietnam--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb 11, 2026--

FPT, a global technology and IT services provider, has been listed among 14 Representative Vendors in the Gartner ® Market Guide for Microsoft 365 Implementation and Support Services 2026.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260211829399/en/

As a Microsoft strategic partner for more than 25 years, FPT covers the full Microsoft stack, including Azure, Microsoft 365, Power Platform, Dynamics 365, and cloud security. The company applies proprietary frameworks such as DX Garage and its FPT Cloudsuite multicloud management platform to help enterprises strengthen governance, accelerate adoption, and innovate the digital workplace experience. The company holds Microsoft Solutions Partner designations and advanced specialisations in low-code application development and cloud security, backed by 1,500 Microsoft-certified engineers and more than 3,000 Microsoft certifications worldwide.

FPT delivers Microsoft 365 services globally, with strong momentum in manufacturing and financial services. In recent years, FPT has expanded its Microsoft 365 capabilities by scaling global helpdesk operations; integrating AI into managed services for faster ticket resolution, self-troubleshooting guidance, and workload monitoring; and building stronger competencies in Microsoft Copilot services and low-code development platforms.

“Our long-standing collaboration with Microsoft has deepened FPT’s expertise across the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. FPT’s inclusion for the second time in this Gartner’s Market Guide reinforces our long-term commitment to helping enterprises operationalise Microsoft 365 at scale. Looking ahead, we will continue to advance AI-driven workplace automation and security, helping organisations accelerate change, improve the end-user experience, and optimise the digital workplace with confidence,” said Frank Bignone, FPT Software Senior Vice President and Head of Corporate Strategy & Growth, FPT Corporation.

Gartner Market Guide for Microsoft 365 Implementation and Support Services, Tom Sieber, Biswajit Maity, Matt Baldino, 7 January 2026.

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About FPT Corporation

FPT Corporation (FPT) is a globally leading technology and IT services provider headquartered in Vietnam and operates in three core sectors: Technology, Telecommunications, and Education. Over more than three decades, FPT has consistently delivered impactful solutions to millions of individuals and tens of thousands of organizations worldwide. As an AI-first company, FPT is committed to elevating Vietnam’s position on the global tech map and delivering world-class AI-enabled solutions for global enterprises. FPT focuses on three critical transformations: Digital Transformation, Intelligence Transformation, and Green Transformation. In 2025, FPT reported a total revenue of USD 2.66 billion and a workforce of over 54,000 employees across its core businesses.

For more information about FPT's global IT services, please visit https://fptsoftware.com.

FPT Recognized in Gartner® Market Guide for Microsoft 365 Implementation and Support Services 2026