The politics of Bangladesh operate in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the prime minister is the head of government and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The Constitution of Bangladesh was written in 1972 and has undergone seventeen amendments.
The current parliamentary system was adopted in 1991 and is based on the Westminster system. Between 1975 and 1990, the nation experienced military rule. A caretaker government was first introduced in 1990, after the resignation of military dictator Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad to observe a neutral democratic election, as per demands of the two major political parties Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Awami League (AL). Following the forced resignation of Ershad, Chief Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed was nominated as the Chief Advisor and observed the 1991 general election. A Caretaker government is headed by a Chief Adviser who enjoys the same power as the regular prime minister of the country except defense matters. The Advisors function as Ministers. After 1991, the Caretaker government has also held the elections of 1996, 2001 and 2008. Although, the first caretaker government was intended to help the transition from authoritarianism to democracy, this system was institutionalized in 1996, by the Sixth Parliament due to rising mistrust between the BNP and AL. In 2011, the then ruling party AL abolished the caretaker government system. This has been the biggest cause of dispute among many others between the BNP and the AL since then. After the AL Government became increasing authoritarian, the 2024 July uprising led to their ousting from the country. In 2026 BNP Government assumed leadership of the country while the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami became the main opposition party.
| President |Hafiz Uddin Ahmad |Bangladesh Nationalist Party |24 July 2026 |- | Prime Minister |Tarique Rahman |Bangladesh Nationalist Party |17 February 2026 |- | Parliament Speaker |Hafiz Uddin Ahmad |Bangladesh Nationalist Party |12 March 2026 |- | Chief Justice |Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury |Nonpartisan |28 December 2025
Political parties and elections
The two major parties in Bangladesh are the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Bangladesh Awami League. Traditionally, the BNP found allies among Islamist parties like Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh while the AL aligned itself with leftist and secular parties such as Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal. After the July Uprising in 2024 Awami League leaders fled the country weakening the party, while BNP and Jamaat split their collations becoming major opposing parties. In 2025 the leaders of the July Uprising formed the National Citizen Party. Another important player is the Jatiya Party, headed by late Hussain Muhammad Ershad's brother GM Quader. The Awami League-BNP rivalry from 1991 to 2024 has been bitter and punctuated by protests, riots, violence and murder. Student politics is particularly strong in Bangladesh, a legacy from the liberation movement era. Almost all parties have highly active student wings, and students have been elected to the parliament.
Three radical Islamist parties, Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB), Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Harkatul Jihad, were banned in February 2004 on grounds of militancy and terrorism. Following the first series of bans, a series of bomb attacks took place in the country in August 2005. Evidence of staging these attacks by these extremist groups had been found in the investigation, and hundreds of suspected members were detained in numerous security operations in 2006, including the two chiefs of the JMB, Shaykh Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai, who were executed with other top leaders in March 2007, bringing the radical parties to an end.
Election History 1973
The 1973 general election was held on 7 March 1973. There were 15 seats reserved for women.Bangladesher Nirbachan 1970-2001 by A S M Samsul Arefin, Bangladesh Research and Publications, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2003, page-27
1979
The 1979 general election was held on 18 February 1979. There were 30 seats reserved for women.Bangladesher Nirbachan 1970-2001 by A S M Samsul Arefin, Bangladesh Research and Publications, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2003, page-30
1986
The 1986 general election was held on 7 May 1986. There were 30 seats reserved for women.Bangladesher Nirbachan 1970-2001 by A S M Samsul Arefin, Bangladesh Research and Publications, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2003, page-33
1988
The 1988 general election was held on 3 March 1988. There were 30 seats reserved for women.Bangladesher Nirbachan 1970-2001 by A S M Samsul Arefin, Bangladesh Research and Publications, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2003, page-36
1991
The 1991 general election was held on 13 January 1991. There were 30 seats reserved for women.Bangladesher Nirbachan 1970-2001 by A S M Samsul Arefin, Bangladesh Research and Publications, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2003, page-40
February 1996
Following boycotts by the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Awami League, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party won the uncontested elections. However, amidst protests, they were made to cave into Awami League's original demands, dissolve the parliament, and hold elections under a neutral caretaker government, after the enactment of the 13th amendment.
June 1996
The Awami League had won a general election for the first time since 1973 by forming a coalition government, since they fell 5 seats short of a majority.
2001
The BNP won a two-thirds parliamentary majority and won the 2001 general election.
2008
The Awami League won a two-thirds parliamentary majority and won the 2008 general election.
2014
The Awami League were declared victors in 127 of 154 uncontested seats by default in the 5 January 2014 elections. Of the remaining uncontested seats, the Jatiya Party led by Rowshan Ershad won 20, the JSD won three, the Workers Party won two and the Jatiya Party (Manju) won one.
As a result of violence and the opposition boycott, voter turnout was only 22%. Results of 139 seats out of 147 were released, with the Awami League winning 105, the Jatiya Party winning 13, the Workers Party winning four, the JSD winning two and the Tarikat Federation and BNF winning one each. The remaining 8 constituencies election were suspended due to violence and re-election to be held. The newly elected MPs were sworn in on 9 January.
2018
The 2018 general election held on 30 December 2018, voter turnout was 80% . Bangladesh Awami League under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina won their 3rd term as the ruling party with 257 seats . The Jatiya Party became the main opposition party with only 22 seats.
2024
The 2024 Bangladesh general election was held on 7 January 2024.
2026
The 2026 Bangladesh general election was held on 12 February 2026 under the interim government of Muhammad Yunus.
Local governance
Nepotism and dynastic politics
Political dynasties are a common occurrence in East Asia, and have been prevalent in Bangladesh since it gained independence. A political dynasty usually refers to a party or any political body run by a single family, with long-established economic or political dominance passed down or inherited. The influence of political dynasties often spills over to the general public sphere and prevalence of this phenomenon has the potential to discourage civil society organizations from taking part in politics
There are several suggested explanations for the prevalence and success of dynastic politics.
The name becomes synonymous with success and leadership, while connections and political capital. Leaders who are connected in collective memory to momentous events are perceived as possessing positive characters such as courage and assertiveness, that can be passed onto the next generation. The above explanation can be applied to parties themselves - party members tend to support candidates that are related to previously successful ones, due to the perception of inherited traits. A tendency for traditionalism, especially in societies where family relations and kinship are central to the culture. Poorer constituencies tend to gravitate towards wealthier, more well-educated politicians, that represent leadership skills as they perceive them.
Two major political dynasties, one led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia, the widow of former military ruler and president Ziaur Rahman and their son Tarique Rahman, alongside the prime minister Sheikh Hasina, daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who has led the AL since 1981, are known for their rivalry.
In recent years, increased awareness of the adverse effects of this political system has caused some shift in public perception.
Political issues
It is historically connected to the Westminster system of democracy of United Kingdom while Bangladesh was part of British Colonial Empire from 1757 to 1947. Since Bangladesh achieved its indendence on 26 March 1971 from Pakistan, Bangladesh introduced parliamentary democracy into its political system; however, a military coup in 1975 halted the process. It was restored in 1991 through a constitutional amendment.
Corruption
Bangladesh has seen political corruption for decades. According to all major ranking institutions, Bangladesh routinely finds itself among the most corrupt countries in the world.
Social issues Social issues in Bangladesh range from liberal inceptions such as women's rights, religious liberty, religious freedom, modernity, industrialization to religious issues such as blasphemy laws, sharia legal system, religious conservatism and state religion. The two main parties, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and the Awami League, both have contested against each other since the millennium over these issues.
Background, Independence movement and Provisional Government
After the British conquest of Bengal on 23 June 1757 and the overthrowing and execution of Nawab Siraj ud-Daulah, considered as the last independent ruler of the region before regaining independence almost 200 years later, the Bengal Presidency was divided in British India in the year 1947, as East Bengal and West Bengal mainly on religious grounds. East Bengal allied itself with the newly formed Muslim state of Pakistan and became known as East Pakistan. However the relations between West Pakistan and East Pakistan were politically strained due to various issues of inequality, language, culture and a large distance of over 2,000 kilometres between the two states separated by the foreign lands of India. The central power remained confined in West Pakistan, thus demand for total independent rule of East Pakistan begun led by prominent Bengali politician Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, better known as Maulana Bhashani. After a food shortage crisis 1n 1956, between 7 and 23 May 1956, Bhashani went on a hunger strike to demand food for the affected people of East Pakistan. Following the Six point movement in 1966, led by Maulana Bhashani's protégé Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the East Pakistan independence movement gained further momentum.
On 5 December 1969, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman stated after independence East Pakistan will be renamed Bangladesh. The situation escalated after the 1970 elections and the 7 March 1971 speech of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Maulana Bhashani was the first ever Bengali to declare independence of East Pakistan in a massive public rally on 23 November 1970 but it was not officially recognized.