Dhaka, Feb. 14 -- The recent collapse of Sheikh Hasina's government, following the tumultuous July-August movement, has sparked a broad debate in political and public circles over the shifting balance of power in Bangladesh.

With the Awami League largely absent from the political arena, analysts are weighing whether this vacuum has created fresh opportunities for Islamist parties.

At the same time, a new polarisation is emerging ahead of the national parliamentary elections, driven by the unity-oriented politics of religion-based parties.

As these groups coalesce around shared ideological goals, their growing influence underscores a shift in the country's electoral calculus, where ideology and strategic vote consolidation are becoming ...