Dhaka, Feb. 12 -- Bangladeshis are heading to the polls on Thursday to cast their ballots in a "historic" general election, marking a pivotal moment in the nation's transition toward democracy following the July Uprising.

The political landscape has shifted dramatically.

The Awami League, toppled in the Uprising, is absent from the ballot.

Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who ruled for nearly 15 years, now lives in exile in India.

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, long out of power, has since passed away.

In the absence of its longstanding rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) faces pressure from its old ally Jamaat e Islami, which has sought to rebrand itself under leader Shafiqur Rahman.

Alongside choosing new leadership, v...