Bangladesh election preparations entered a decisive phase after authorities set February 12, 2026 for a national vote alongside a referendum, while Jamaat-e-Islami signaled openness to post-election governing flexibility.
Election date, voting hours, and key deadlines
The Bangladesh election schedule was announced on December 11, 2025 by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin, according to the state news agency BSS.
BSS said the 13th national election and a referendum on the July National Charter will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2026, with voting from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Bangladesh election calendar includes tight procedural steps. BSS reported the nomination submission deadline is December 29, with scrutiny running December 30, 2025 to January 4, 2026.
These dates matter because they set the legal path from announcement to ballot finalization. They also compress the time for parties to settle seat allocations.
Jamaat’s signal: unity government is on the table
Reuters reported that Jamaat-e-Islami is open to joining a unity government after the Bangladesh election, depending on results and negotiations.
In the Reuters report, Jamaat leader Shafiqur Rahman said the prime minister would come from the party that wins the most seats, while adding that anti-corruption should be a shared agenda for any unity arrangement.
Reuters also noted that opinion polls suggest Jamaat could finish close behind the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in its first election contest in nearly 17 years.
That positioning gives Jamaat leverage in coalition math, especially if the Bangladesh election produces a fragmented parliament.
Referendum adds a second axis to the Bangladesh election
The ballot will include both a parliamentary vote and a referendum. BSS described the referendum as being on the July National Charter.
AP reported that the election follows a period of upheaval and that parties broadly welcomed the schedule announcement, framing it as a step toward restoring voting rights and political legitimacy.
The combined vote and referendum structure matters for governance. It forces parties to campaign on both immediate power and the rules that shape power.
Why coalition signals matter now
Coalition signaling during the Bangladesh election window influences three practical dynamics.
First, it can reduce uncertainty for candidates and donors. If parties expect bargaining after results, they may avoid scorched-earth rhetoric.
Second, it shapes voter expectations. A unity-government signal can pull in moderates who want stability, while alienating voters who prefer a clear mandate.
Third, it affects post-vote speed. If coalition pathways are pre-negotiated, government formation can move faster, reducing policy drift.
What to watch between now and Feb 12
Candidate lists and withdrawals
The Bangladesh election will turn on who makes the final slate and how disputes are resolved during scrutiny and appeals windows. BSS laid out the core deadlines that govern this process.
Polling and seat arithmetic
Reuters’ reporting that Jamaat could be competitive underscores why small vote-share shifts may translate into decisive seat leverage in a first-past-the-post system.
Referendum framing and turnout
AP’s reporting suggests the referendum is being framed as part of a broader post-upheaval political reset. That framing can influence turnout and legitimacy signals on election night.