Bangladesh is preparing for its 13th general election on Thursday, the first since the 2024 uprising that ended Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule. The mass protests forced Hasina into exile and ended her “autocratic” regime. Nearly 127 million people can vote, guarded by 157,000 police officers, 100,000 soldiers, and thousands of more security personnel across the country. The main competitor is the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by 60-year-old Tarique Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. The BNP faces an 11-party coalition led by Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist party banned under Hasina but regaining power now. The coalition also includes the new National Citizen Party, formed by 2024 uprising leaders. Along with choosing lawmakers, voters will decide a referendum on political reforms. These include limits on prime minister terms and stronger controls on executive power to stop dominance in parliament. Security concerns loom large. Election Commissioner Abul Fazal Muhammad Sanaullah said more than 90% of 299 constituencies have security cameras. One constituency’s vote is suspended due to a candidate’s death. Police chief Baharul Alam said over half of the 42,000 polling stations are at risk of violence. "More than 24,000 polling centres have been marked as either high-risk or moderately risky," he said. He added that 1,300 police guns stolen during the 2024 unrest are still missing. For the first time, police will wear body cameras during patrols in risky areas. Political clashes since December have left five dead and over 600 injured. From August 2024 to December 2025, rights groups reported 158 killed and 7,000 wounded in election-related violence. Transparency International Bangladesh warned that parties formed "mobs" and set roadblocks. Alam admitted public distrust of police, saying, "It is quite understandable why people do not trust the police." Millions are traveling home to vote, causing traffic jams on main highways. An interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus declared three public holidays for the election. First-time voters, who led the 2024 protests, make up one-fourth of the electorate. Public hope is high that this election will reset democracy and free political space. Yunus urged voters in a TV address, "I am not merely requesting you. I am demanding it. Set fear aside and bring courage forward as you head to the polling stations. Your vote will not only elect a government. It will respond to 17 years of silence, challenge unrestrained fascism, reshape the nation, and prove that this country will never let the voices of its youth, women and resilient people be silenced again." He warned of strong action against any election violence or disruptions. The election and the referendum will shape Bangladesh’s political future.