Bangladesh Election 2026: 7 Takeaways From BNP And Jamaat’s Manifesto Promises

Last Updated:February 09, 2026, 18:37 IST

With the Awami League barred from the polls, BNP and Jamaat lay out competing visions for Bangladesh’s future, from economic roadmaps to foreign policy and religious freedom.

Bangladesh goes to the polls on 12 February in its first national election since the dramatic ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024, an uprising that ended 15 years of Awami League rule and brought in an interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus.

In the months after Hasina’s fall, the Awami League was barred from political activity, creating an election unlike any the country has seen in recent years: one without its most dominant party on the ballot.

Into this vacuum have stepped the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), now led by Tarique Rahman, and its former ally turned principal rival, Jamaat-e-Islami, led by Shafiqur Rahman.

Both parties are contesting against the backdrop of economic strain, political upheaval and anxiety over minority attacks, and both have released expansive manifestoes that attempt to speak to a country unsettled by the turbulence of the past two years.

Their manifestoes outline sharply defined visions of governance, economic restructuring, foreign relations and defence, and offer a window into how each hopes to shape Bangladesh’s next chapter.

What Jamaat-E-Islami Is Promising

Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh’s largest Islamist political party, released a 41-point ‘People’s Manifesto’ with the slogan “A Safe and Humane Bangladesh." Party chief Shafiqur Rahman unveiled the document in Dhaka before an audience that included diplomats, political leaders, business figures and civil society members.

Jamaat makes women central to its pitch, while fielding no women candidates

A central pillar of Jamaat’s manifesto is widening women’s participation in governance. The party pledges to include a “significant number of women in the cabinet" if voted to power, even though it has not fielded any female candidates.

The manifesto also states: “The cabinet will reflect the diversity of the nation by ensuring representation of religious and ethnic communities and other historically under-represented sections of society."

Alongside this, the party promises a safe working environment for women and says maternity-related working hours may be reduced to five per day, subject to the mother’s consent. The emphasis on women follows a controversy involving a post that briefly appeared on Rahman’s verified X account before being deleted, with the party later saying the account had been hacked.

Jamaat also proposes enacting a distinct Muslim Personal Law aligned with Islamic Shari‘ah, establishing a special bench in the High Court Division for personal law matters, and ensuring women receive their lawful share of inheritance.

A $2 trillion Bangladesh by 2040

Jamaat sets sweeping economic targets. It aims to elevate Bangladesh’s global economic position from 35th to 20th and promises to draft a modern trade policy within five years to attract $15 billion in foreign investment. It also seeks to reduce dependence on imported goods by 30 per cent.

Long-term goals include transforming Bangladesh into a $2 trillion economy by 2040 and raising per capita income to $10,000.

For context, as of early 2026, the volume of the Bangladesh economy is approximately $475 billion in nominal terms, but if the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) is estimated, the total volume is estimated at $1.78 trillion.

Jamaat’s Global Map Widens, But Pakistan Is Absent

In foreign policy, Jamaat pledges peaceful and cooperative relations with neighbouring countries, including India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Thailand, based on “mutual respect and fairness." It does not mention Pakistan, despite historical ties, but promises to prioritise relations with Muslim-majority nations and expand engagement with the US, UK, EU, Japan and Canada.

It also aims to broaden Bangladesh’s diplomatic footprint across Eastern Europe, Africa and South America, and maintain active multilateral engagement through the UN, SAARC and ASEAN.

On defence, Jamaat promises to formulate a national defence policy, develop a new military doctrine, establish a military research institution and modernise the armed forces. It proposes voluntary 6–12 month military training for young men and women aged 18–22.

Re-Emergence After Years of Restrictions

The party is contesting 179 parliamentary constituencies under an 11-party alliance arrangement that includes the National Citizen Party (NCP), a group formed by leaders of the 2024 student movement. Its earlier peak was 17 seats in the 2001 election, followed by a long period of decline, including the cancellation of its registration in 2013.

What The BNP Is Promising

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, now led by Tarique Rahman following the death of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, has unveiled a manifesto centred on political reform, economic restructuring, religious freedom and national unity. The party, which emerged as a principal force after Hasina’s ouster, is contesting this election after boycotting the 2014 and 2024 polls.

Its manifesto outlines five broad priorities: state reform; socio-economic development and sustainable state capacity; rebuilding and restoring Bangladesh’s economy; regional balanced development; and policies for religion, society, sports and culture.

BNP frames its campaign around unity and religious freedom after months of minority attacks

The BNP’s manifesto emphasises ending political and social division, declaring that “we are all Bangladeshis." It promises religious harmony under the principle that “religion is individual, the state is for all."

It pledges to ensure the right to perform religious rituals and celebrate festivals without hindrance, a commitment underscored by recent attacks on religious minorities, particularly Hindus, during the interim government’s tenure.

Several Hindus in Bangladesh have been lynched by Islamist mobs in the past few months, while houses belonging to Hindu families have been set on fire.

‘Friend yes, master no’

While the manifesto made no mention of India, it outlined a foreign policy basis of ‘Bangladesh Before All: Friend Yes, Master No’ in relations with other countries based on equality and self-dignity.

“Bangladesh will not interfere in other states’ internal matters and will not allow interference in its own matters," it affirmed.

The BNP also assured effective measures to claim a fair share of water from the Teesta and Padma Rivers, and promised a strict position on stopping border killings and smuggling.

It vowed to build a ‘Strategic Partnership’ with the Muslim world, along with making SAARC effective and efforts to get ASEAN membership. The BNP also promised a zero-tolerance policy against terrorism, militancy and extremism and outlined a ‘Made in Bangladesh’ initiative to meet the demand of its Armed Forces’ to build a self-reliant defence industry.

$1 trillion economy by 2034

BNP’s economic vision aims to “rebuild and restore a fragile economy." Rahman said the party would work towards making Bangladesh a $1 trillion economy by 2034 and becoming an upper-middle-income country. The party’s roadmap includes raising foreign direct investment from 0.45 per cent to 2.5 per cent of GDP.

Rahman said Bangladesh’s growth under BNP leadership would “not be based" on privileges for any group but built on the “productive power" of all citizens. He said the BNP aims to “break the oligarchic structure" and revive a middle class that has been “literally wiped out." The manifesto stresses job creation, private-sector expansion, fair distribution of wealth and investment-driven growth.

It also promises stability in tariffs, taxes and export incentives, and pledges to keep the foreign exchange regime stable. The BNP says Bangladesh will be developed as “a safe, prosperous, investment destination."

People-oriented, inclusive government

The BNP promises a people-oriented, inclusive government. It says that, if elected, anti-corruption and law-and-order will be top priorities. Institutional reforms include reinstating the caretaker government system, introducing an Upper House in Parliament, creating a Vice-President post and imposing a 10-year limit on any Prime Minister’s tenure.

The party also vows justice for crimes committed during what it calls the “fascist era," referring to Hasina’s years in power. It proposes democratisation, investment incentives, financial reforms and industrial policy measures aimed at rebuilding the economy.

On defence, Rahman said the BNP would adopt a modern defence policy based on the “People’s Warfare Doctrine" developed by Ziaur Rahman, with self-reliance, enhanced air power and secure maritime boundaries as key principles.

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