Bangladesh Elections: High Stakes Amid Violence; Can Tarique Rahman Make History?

• Bangladesh holds its 13th parliamentary election today, February 12, amidst political turmoil and violence.
• Approximately 12.77 crore voters, including 1,220 third-gender voters, will decide the country's future.
• The main contest is between Tarique Rahman's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Shafiqur Rahman's Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.
• Former PM Sheikh Hasina's Awami League is banned; Jatiya Party and Left Democratic Alliance are also in the fray.
• Alongside parliamentary elections, a national referendum on constitutional reforms is also being held.