Dhaka, Feb. 10 -- On a cool February morning, Bangladesh will vote under the long shadow of an uprising -- its streets quieter now, but its questions unresolved. When the ballots are cast, the country will be asking not just who wins, but who decides.

Nearly a year and a half after a student-led mass uprising toppled the Awami League regime, the country is preparing for its parliamentary election on Feb 12, alongside a nationwide referendum.

It will be the first general election since power shifted through the streets rather than parliament -- and it arrives amid deep unease, raw memories, and a newly politicised electorate.

Election officials and analysts point to two groups likely to determine the outcome: young voters and women. Tog...