Bangladesh Braces for New Elections Amid Political Upheaval

Bangladesh's Election Commission is set to announce parliamentary election dates after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was overthrown. Interim leader Muhammad Yunus governs as a referendum on state reforms coincides with the polls. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party leads, while Jamaat-e-Islami returns to contest elections after eased restrictions.

Bangladesh's Election Commission will reveal the date for upcoming parliamentary elections set for February, following the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by a student-led revolt in 2024.

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus heads the interim government since last year, after Hasina fled amid violent protests. The schedule will be disclosed by Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin during a nationwide broadcast.

A referendum on the 'July Charter', proposing significant reforms to curtail executive powers and enhance institutional independence, coincides with the elections. The main contenders include Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat-e-Islami, which returns after legal restrictions were relaxed.

(With inputs from agencies.)