Special Report: Bangladesh Spirals Into Chaos Ahead of 2026 Polls; Awami League Banned

This special report examines Bangladesh's escalating political crisis ahead of the February 2026 election. With the Awami League banned and its leader Sheikh Hasina in exile, the nation is spiralling into a familiar cycle of boycotts and political retribution. The report questions if the upcoming vote, administered by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, can deliver true democracy or if it is merely 'the same old foul grab in a new outfit'. The analysis highlights the deep-seated irony of the situation, where the Awami League now faces the same exclusionary tactics it once used against its rival, the BNP. As the country heads towards a contentious election, millions of Awami League supporters risk being disenfranchised, threatening the legitimacy of the outcome and pushing the nation through a cycle of 'vengeance not transition'.