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Last Updated:February 12, 2026, 11:24 IST
Bangladesh votes after Sheikh Hasina’s fall, with Muhammad Yunus urging participation in Dhaka.
Chief Adviser of Bangladesh's Interim Government, Muhammad Yunus arrives to cast his ballot at a polling station. (AFP)
Bangladesh voted on Thursday in a crucial election held after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, with Interim Government Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus casting his vote in the capital. Yunus voted at the Gulshan Model High School and College polling centre in Dhaka and described the day as a turning point for the nation.
Speaking to reporters after voting, Yunus said, “From today, we have the opportunity to create a new Bangladesh at every level. Let us celebrate this day as a birthday throughout the day. Let everyone celebrate and make sure to cast their vote. Voting for candidates is important. But the referendum is very important. I urge everyone to take part in the referendum so that we can build a new Bangladesh. Today is a day of joy for all of Bangladesh. A day of liberation. The end of our nightmare and the beginning of a new dream. Congratulations to everyone. Eid Mubarak."
Yunus, who has led the South Asian nation of 170 million people since Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule ended with her ouster in August 2024, said he had inherited a “completely broken down" system of public administration and justice that required comprehensive reforms. Since assuming charge, he has pushed for a reform charter aimed at preventing a return to what he described as autocratic one-party rule.
The proposed charter includes term limits for prime ministers, the creation of an upper house of parliament, stronger presidential powers and greater judicial independence. Alongside parliamentary elections, voters are also participating in a referendum to decide whether to endorse the charter. The referendum requires a simple majority to pass and, if approved, would still need ratification by the new parliament.
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First Published:
February 12, 2026, 11:24 IST
News world ‘New Bangladesh Begins Today’: Muhammad Yunus Casts Vote In Political Reset
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