Bangladesh Election: BNP-Jamaat Fortunes Hinge on Last-Minute Factors

• Bangladesh's February 12 election is crucial, following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ouster and a constitutional referendum on the July Charter.
• The BNP, led by Tarique Rahman, and Jamaat-e-Islami, under Shafiqur Rahman, are in a tight race, with surveys predicting a neck-and-neck fight.
• The Awami League is banned, but a tense political environment persists with security alerts, unsurrendered firearms, and attacks on leaders.
• A significant 48% of voters remain undecided, making their choices and potential low turnout among women and elderly voters critical.
• Low voter turnout, potentially due to slow voting procedures, could favor the Jamaat-led alliance due to its disciplined cadre base.