Dhaka, Feb. 6 -- For a long time, voting in Bangladesh was a national festival. Then, it became a point of deep pain. After years of predictable outcomes and one-sided ballots, the air in the tea stalls and university campuses feels different. There is a sense of "reset", a hope that the ballot box will once again belong to the people.

Now, as the winter of 2026 settles over Dhaka, it has become a symbol of a "Second Independence".

The "See-Saw" Era (1991-2008)

For twenty years, Bangladesh followed a predictable but competitive rhythm. Under the unique "Caretaker Government" system, the two giants the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Awami League (AL) took turns at the helm.

In 1991, the nation celebrated its first post-dict...