On Thursday, Bangladesh held an acceptable election after 18 years, one in which participation was not curtailed by the state itself.

It’s perhaps divine timing that V-Day falls just after the confirmation of election results, marked by the public’s overwhelming support for the party at the top and the strengthening of support bases for the parties in second place.

What is being decided is not only who will govern but whether the institutional settlement emerging from the uprising can acquire sufficient legitimacy to endure.

Let us begin with the sexual harassment ordinance. The most significant shift is symbolic and legal simultaneously as we deal with codification.

Both the Awami League and BNP have treated parliament like a stage that can be deserted whenever negotiations stall, criminal cases are filed, or street pressure seems more useful than parliamentary debate.

While all our expectations from this pivotal moment may not have been fulfilled, we have, nevertheless, obtained a roadmap for moving forward. Bangladesh is soon going to have a parliament with members elected through a largely credible competition.

Across the country, we noted a large turnout of the youngest of young and the frailest of elderly voters.

For those of us in our 20s and above, the 13th parliamentary election is the first where we hold real leverage.

As the interim government’s term comes to an end, power is set to be transferred to the democratically elected leadership.

Despite many uncertainties and deep misgivings that weigh heavily on our minds, the excitement of voting this time is inescapable.

Since independence, Bangladeshi politics has been shaped by a narrow set of familiar narratives.

The point is that complex and diverse education services operate under a variety of legal provisions, and their requirements can hardly be met by a single umbrella law.

To be clear, corruption remains a global menace, and, as on previous occasions, no country has scored full marks. Over 67 percent of countries (or 122) scored below 50 percent in 2025, and 96 countries, or nearly 54 percent, scored below the global average.

After months of doubt and anxiety, the simple fact that Bangladesh is heading into a nationally competitive election at all is something worth acknowledging.

The late unveiling of manifestos by all major parties—whether by choice or due to poor planning—meant that the campaign largely devolved into a contest of personalities rather than a comparison of policies.

Bangladesh’s GDP in the fiscal year 2025 was $461.63 billion. If the country aims to reach a $1 trillion economy by FY2034, the economy would need to more than double over nine years.

This is not merely an election. It is a referendum on whether Bangladesh can govern itself without a strongman or a coup.

While the central government is supposed to frame policies, the local government bodies are tasked with implementing development programmes and delivering services to the people under their respective jurisdictions.

As Bangladesh approaches another parliamentary election, political rhetoric is intensifying, development pledges are being recycled, and candidates are once again courting voters with familiar promises.

For most of our lives, democracy existed as a concept we memorised rather than experienced.