Bangladesh to hold national elections on Feb 12 next year, first since Hasina’s exit and months of turmoil

The general elections in Bangladesh will be held on February 12, the country's Election Commission announced on Thursday. This will be the country’s first national vote since last year’s student-led uprising that forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to India.

A national referendum on the "July Charter" will also be held on the same day, proposing significant reforms to state institutions, including curbing executive powers and strengthening judicial independence, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin said in a television broadcast to the nation. Voting will be held simultaneously for all 300 parliamentary seats.

Since Hasina's departure, an interim government helmed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been running the country of 173 million. But frustration has been