Can Bangladeshi voters in Britain influence Bangladesh’s 2026 election?

Behind the fluorescent-lit glass counters of Casablanca Cafe in London, two men in forest-green polo shirts serve singhara, biryani, and hash browns to a diverse lunchtime crowd. With Bangladesh’s upcoming election as a constant topic of conversation, the first national vote since Hasina’s removal is anticipated to feature genuine competition between the Awami League and the BNP, now led by Tarique Rahman. Expatriate Bangladeshis, for the first time, have the right to vote remotely, with over seven million registered worldwide but only 32,000 in the UK, reflecting the significant influence of events in Bangladesh on East London’s Bangladeshi community.

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