Islamists gain ground as Bangladesh gears up for elections

Bangladesh heads to the polls on February 12 in an election unlike any in its recent history. With the long‑dominant Awami League (AL) barred from participating, an Islamist alliance, strengthened by the student‑led National Citizen Party (NCP), has emerged as a powerful contender. For the first time since independence in 1971, Islamist forces appear poised