Bangladesh faces election uncertainty amid unrest and weakened police force

Bangladesh’s caretaker government’s vow to hold fresh elections as early as next year or early 2026 faces a severe test amid rising unrest and expert warnings that a depleted and demoralised police force may struggle to restore order.

The country’s interim leader, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, said on Monday that the voting schedule will depend on electoral reforms, political consensus, and an accurate voters’ list.

Opposition parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), one of two dominant parties in the country alongside the Awami League, have called for elections to be held as soon as possible.

Analysts say conducting a credible poll will require stabilising the country’s security landscape, which has been marred by attacks on minorities. Recent incidents, such as the detention of a Hindu priest and reports of abuse against Hindus, have heightened tensions, prompting calls for the interim administration to prioritise law and order.

Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India in August following massive student-led protests. But, violent incidents have persisted as a severely reduced police force, which itself has been targeted in attacks, has struggled to contain the bloodshed.

“The police force has been reduced to more than half of its operational capacity. The primary reason is a lot of policemen have been seriously beaten up or killed,” said Priyajait Debsarkar, a London-based author who writes on Bangladesh.