In February 2026 Bangladesh will revert to democratic rule following elections and a referendum on the July charter. The new government will face a plethora of challenges, including reviving the economy, addressing demographic pressures, and healing the divides caused by the previous regime. There is also potential for renewed social unrest if voters perceive a return to business as usual.
Relations with India, China, Pakistan and the US will also be priorities for a new administration. Navigating the current geopolitical turbulence will not be easy for any new government, not least for a country with the level of social, economic, political and historical baggage as Bangladesh.
What happens in Bangladesh offer lessons to other countries in South Asia and the Global South, notably those who have experienced Gen Z protests in recent months. How Bangladesh recovers and implements its renewed democracy will be a prominent signal for other countries in the region and around the world.
