Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections will take place on Thursday, February 12, 2026. These developments may be highly relevant to the issues explored by the committee, and delegates are encouraged to follow them closely. For NHSMUN, however, the simulation itself will begin on January 1, 2026, and discussions will proceed from that point.

Introduction

Bangladesh has gone through months of turmoil. Now, the government is working to try to build a functional democracy. New ideas of stabilization and growth are emerging across the state. However, the country still faces rapidly developing crises, both old and new. The government must now respond to them.

The Interim Government’s Recent Activities

The interim government has taken steps to rebuild Bangladesh. The Yunus-led cabinet proposed a series of reforms known as the “July National Charter.” This and many other reforms are aimed at reducing the prime minister’s power. One main idea is a 10-year term limit for the prime minister. Another is to let the president choose the leaders of some government branches, a power that used to fall under the prime minister. The charter would also prevent active prime ministers from holding party leadership positions.

While these changes could limit the prime minister’s power, some individuals are critical of the July Charter. They have accused the government of erasure for omitting major events from Bangladesh’s history. One example is the 1947 Partition of India. The National Consensus Commission later added this and other events to the charter. However, only a few parties have agreed to sign the Charter since it was introduced, harming its legitimacy.

Bangladesh also needs to rebuild its economy and image. To do so, it has recently strengthened its relations with China. After his appointment, Yunus’ first international visit was to China. While there, he secured USD 2.1 billion in infrastructure investments for Bangladesh. China will also be a part of the Teesta River Comprehensive Management and Restoration Project in Bangladesh. However, India has grown concerned because the Teesta River lies close to the “Chicken’s Neck,” a strip of land that connects the Indian mainland to its northern states. This corridor is vital for India’s safety, trade, and movement of troops. If something went wrong, millions of people and important supply routes could be cut off. Therefore, India is worried about China being involved in a large project so close to this sensitive area.

The Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh (CEAB) also wants to form a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries. They cited China’s investment in the country as a big factor in boosting its economy. As these ties grow, their political stances have begun to align as well. For example, Bangladesh no longer supports Taiwan’s independence. However, growing closer to China may hurt relations with the United States. Relations with China will play a major role in Bangladesh’s foreign policy and growth.

There have also been developments in Bangladesh’s internal affairs. In November 2025, the Bangladeshi International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) charged Sheikh Hasina, former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, with crimes against humanity. The main accusation was that she ordered lethal force to be used on protestors in August 2024. An estimated 1,400 people were killed during the crackdown, with 12-13 percent of them children. As such, the ICT sentenced Hasina and her home minister to death. Hasina continues to deny these claims and has accused the trials of being rigged. She claims that the ICT did not let her defend herself or choose her own legal representation. In response, the Chief Prosecutor insists the trial was fair and followed international standards. As of December 2025, Hasina is in India and would have to return to Bangladesh to serve her sentence. The Indian government has not expressed any plans to send her to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s Evolving Political Climate

Bangladesh’s political climate has experienced many changes. In May 2025, the interim government banned the Awami League (AL), Hasina’s party. They blame the AL for the killings of protestors, so it is banned from running in the next election. Student protestors support this, but critics view this as undemocratic. They believe the ban is an illegal power grab by the interim government, which could set a dangerous precedent. Although this move has appeased those who want to bring Hasina’s government to justice, it also alienates supporters of the AL. This shift may make it harder to unify the country.

Leaders of the student protests have created the National Citizen Party (NCP). This new centrist party was founded by Nahid Islam. He was a key organizer of the student movement and a member of the interim government before he left to create the NCP. They want to bring reform to Bangladesh and separate the modern AL from the party’s history in the independence movement. One of the NCP’s main goals is to rewrite the constitution. They seek to remove and alter some parts inspired by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s first president, a member of the AL, and Sheikh Hasina’s father. They believe Rahman’s ideas enabled Hasina to become more autocratic. However, the NCP has not publicly detailed which parts of the constitution they want to change.

Another rising party is Jamaat-e-Islami. It is the country’s largest and oldest Islamist political party. However, it has a complicated history. Leaders of Jamaat were complicit in war crimes committed against Bangladeshis during the 1971 Liberation War. Some of them were later tried and executed for this. In 2013, under Sheikh Hasina, a court ruled that Jamaat’s charter violated the constitution, so it was banned. Since Hasina’s ousting, the government has removed the ban on Jamaat. This has allowed the party to revitalize itself. Now, it claims to be inspired by both progressive and traditional Islamic values. Members claim to focus more on social justice and plan to enact welfare programs if elected. In July 2025, 48.5 percent of voters were undecided on which party to support. Support has slightly fallen for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat, while the NCP has seen a slight rise. However, they all need more support to have a chance in the next elections.

Conclusion

The situation in Bangladesh is very complex. Working with China may bring new economic benefits, but it could anger India. The ban on the AL has created a power vacuum. Both traditional and reformist parties want to use it to their advantage. Traditional parties hope to hold elections soon, but reformist parties want more reforms before elections. The longer the government waits, the more divided the people will become. In the end, the interim government must fulfill its mandate and rebuild national unity to succeed.

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