Dhaka, Feb 12 (.) The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a sweeping victory in Friday’s parliamentary elections, winning 213 of the 296 contested seats in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, setting the stage for Tarique Rahman to become the next prime minister.
The landslide result is widely seen as a decisive public mandate and a potential turning point toward renewed political stability in the South Asian nation.
Tarique Rahman, 60, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and former President Ziaur Rahman, brought BNP’s dramatic return to power after nearly two decades in opposition.
Millions of voters cast their ballots in what many described as a long-awaited exercise of democratic rights. The election, the first national vote since the 2024 student-led uprising that toppled long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
According to official tallies and party counts, the BNP and its allies are leading in 213 constituencies declared so far, positioning the party for a commanding two-thirds majority in parliament. Party leaders termed the outcome as an “overwhelming public mandate,” expressing confidence that the final results would further consolidate their dominance in the Jatiya Sangsad.
The scale of the victory signals a profound shift in national politics, ending the BNP’s prolonged absence from government and potentially reshaping governance priorities, policy direction, and the balance of power in Bangladesh’s parliamentary democracy.
For decades, national politics were defined by the rivalry between Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League and Khaleda Zia of the BNP, a contest widely known as the “Battle of the Begums.” From 1991 until 2024, the two leaders alternated in power and dominated the political landscape for more than thirty years.
Khaleda Zia became Bangladesh’s first female Prime Minister, while Sheikh Hasina went on to become the country’s longest-serving Prime Minister and one of South Asia’s most influential political figures.
Following Sheikh Hasina’s ouster in August 2024, a new interim administration was formed under the leadership of Muhammad Yunus.
In the wake of the BNP’s victory, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Tarique Rahman on leading the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to what he described as a “decisive victory” in Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections, reaffirming India’s commitment to supporting a democratic and progressive neighbour.
‎In a message posted on X, Modi conveyed his “warm congratulations” to Rahman, saying, “This victory shows the trust of the people of Bangladesh in your leadership.”
‎The Prime Minister underscored India’s continued support for Bangladesh’s democratic journey. “India will continue to stand in support of a democratic, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh,” he said, signaling New Delhi’s readiness to work closely with the new leadership in Dhaka.
‎Modi also expressed optimism about the future of bilateral ties. “I look forward to working with you to strengthen our multifaceted relations and advance our common development goals,” he added.
‎India and Bangladesh share deep historical, cultural, and economic links, with cooperation spanning trade, connectivity, energy, water resources, and security. Over the past decade, ties between the two countries have expanded significantly, particularly in cross-border infrastructure and regional connectivity initiatives.
Mohamed Muizzu, President of the Maldives, congratulated Tarique Rahman and the Bangladesh Nationalist Party on their decisive win in the 13th National Parliamentary Elections. He expressed warm regards and voiced optimism about deepening cooperation and strengthening the longstanding friendship between the Maldives and Bangladesh in the years ahead.
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