Votes have been being counted in Bangladesh, which held its first important vote since its former ruler  Sheikh Hasina. She  lost power to a coup by student protesters in 2024. For the first time since 2008, the outcomes of this vote are completely unpredictable. While there have been over 2,000 contestants,  Hasina’s political party, the Awami League, has been barred from the race.

The main conflict is between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the opposition alliance formed by the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami party. The people of Bangladesh also have to make a choice about letting the government hold a referendum for changing the constitution regarding any future dictatorships. Millions of young people have voted for a "new dream," but there are also concerns about the absence of female candidates and the ban on the previous ruling party. The election results will be announced this Friday.