Dhaka, Feb 13 (.) Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, won a landslide victory in Friday’s parliamentary elections, securing a resounding mandate of 210 seats out of 300 in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, a result expected to restore political stability in the South Asian nation.
The election, held on Thursday, was Bangladesh’s first national vote since the 2024 student-led uprising that toppled long-time prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
According to the official figures released by the Election Commission, the BNP has secured 210 seats, Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies have won 73 seats, and independents hold 8 seats in the 300-member parliament. A party or alliance requires 151 seats for a simple majority in the 299-member Jatiya Sangsad.
Soon after securing a majority in the overnight vote count, the BNP thanked and congratulated the people, calling for special prayers on Friday for the welfare of the country and its citizens. “Despite winning the national parliamentary election by a large margin, no celebratory procession or rally shall be organised by the BNP,” the party said in a statement, urging people to offer prayers at mosques, temples, churches, and pagodas across the nation.
The party is led by prime ministerial candidate Tarique Rahman, the 60-year-old son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and former President Ziaur Rahman. During its campaign, the BNP promised financial support for low-income families, a 10-year limit for individuals serving as prime minister, measures to boost the economy, including attracting foreign investment, and strong anti-corruption policies.
Tarique Rahman said the BNP would accept the outcome provided the election remained neutral and peaceful, adding that restoring law and order would be a priority if the party formed the government.
The election saw a direct contest between the BNP and its former ally, Jamaat-e-Islami, as the now-dissolved Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, was barred from contesting. Bangladesh has been governed for the past 18 months by an interim administration headed by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus.
Voting took place simultaneously with a nationwide referendum on the 84-point July National Charter. According to media tallies, 4,137,196 votes were cast in the referendum, with 2,700,844 (65.3 percent) supporting the reform proposal.
Voter participation was reported across age groups, with women and first-time voters turning out in notable numbers. Turnout had reached 47.91 percent by 2:00 pm, according to EC data from most polling centres.
Security was tight nationwide, with armed forces, police, and other law enforcement agencies deployed across polling stations. While isolated incidents were reported, the election was widely described as largely peaceful.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus called the vote a moment of renewal for the country. Army chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman described the day as significant and urged citizens to participate without fear.
In a statement sent after polling stations closed, former PM Sheikh Hasina denounced the election as a “carefully planned farce”, held without her party and without real voter participation. She said Awami League supporters had rejected the process.
“We demand the cancellation of this voterless, illegal and unconstitutional election … the removal of the suspension imposed on the activities of the Awami League, and the restoration of the people’s voting rights through the arrangement of a free, fair, and inclusive election under a neutral caretaker government,” she said.
Opponents of Hasina say that elections under her rule were frequently marred by boycotts and intimidation.
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