The calendar moves on relentlessly, indifferent to human hopes and anxieties. Yet, history is shaped not by time itself, but by people and events. For Bangladesh, the years 2024 and 2025 were politically momentous, culminating in a decisive turning point on 5 August that reshaped the country’s trajectory. Public demands for justice against authoritarianism, meaningful reforms, and, above all a credible national election dominated the political landscape.
Throughout 2025, one question overshadowed all others: will there be an election, and if so, when? Those questions were answered before the year ended, with polls scheduled for 12 February 2026, alongside a referendum. Still, uncertainty lingers and will persist until the election is completed.
The past year saw exhaustion with old politics alongside hopes for renewal, fears of violence, and strong calls for reform. Major developments included verdicts by the International Crimes Tribunal, the banning of the Awami League from electoral participation, sporadic unrest, and the issuing of arrest warrants against several former and serving senior military officers. December finally brought the formal election announcement.
The year closed with the death of BNP chairperson and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia, marking the end of a defining chapter in Bangladesh’s political history. Massive public gatherings—first in grief, then in political mobilization, reflected both loss and transition. Khaleda Zia remains a lasting figure in the nation’s politics and history.
Attention has now shifted to BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman, whose return to Bangladesh and political plans have generated widespread public interest. His growing visibility has fuelled expectations, even as questions remain about the future direction of politics.
Amid these developments, violence and unresolved justice, such as the killing of activist Osman Hadi, have underscored the fragility of the transition and the urgency of restoring public trust.
The central challenge of 2026 is clear: to return politics to a constitutional and democratic path through a free, fair and inclusive national election and referendum. This requires visible neutrality from state institutions, internal reform within political parties, and transparent engagement with the public. Only then can citizens regain confidence in the political process and begin to move beyond years of grief, fear and frustration.
A new year always brings hope, even if reality falls short. For Bangladesh, the national election is the single most important test. If trust can be rebuilt and reforms genuinely pursued, 2026 may yet mark the beginning of stability. The new year, then, is not just a celebration, but a moment of expectation. We bid farewell to 2025 and welcome 2026 with hope and expectation.
