Bangladesh is preparing for its first general election since the overthrow of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, but in her traditional strongholds, uncertainty and unease dominate the political landscape.
In Gopalganj, south of Dhaka and long considered the heartland of the now-banned Awami League (AL), residents are struggling to adjust to an election without the party that shaped their political identity for decades. The country of around 170 million people is set to vote on February 12, following the 2024 uprising that ended Hasina’s rule.
“Sheikh Hasina may have done wrong, but what did the millions of Awami League supporters do?” asked Mohammad Shahjahan Fakir, a 68-year-old tricycle delivery driver, who said he would not vote. Many residents expressed confusion over the absence of the AL’s iconic “boat” symbol from ballot papers.
Hasina, who dominated elections in Gopalganj since 1991, fled to India after a failed attempt to retain power and a violent crackdown on protests. In November, she was sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity, and her party was outlawed — a move Human Rights Watch described as “draconian”.
Local vendors and residents said they were unfamiliar with the candidates now contesting the constituency. Political tensions remain high, with clashes reported during campaigning and thousands of cases filed against residents following unrest in 2025.
Despite statues of Hasina’s father, Bangladesh founder Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, being removed elsewhere, Gopalganj has preserved his murals and monuments, underscoring lingering loyalty to the family.
Analysts predict voter turnout in the district could be among the lowest nationwide. “There is denial, confusion and a sense of collective punishment,” said Dhaka University professor Sazzad Siddiqui.
With the Awami League absent, candidates from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami are vying for support. While both promise change and reconciliation, many former AL supporters remain disillusioned.
“I’m not going to vote,” said one woman, declining to be named. “Who should I vote for except Hasina?”
