Bangladesh: Tarique Rahman’s BNP wins two-thirds majority, Jamaat’s hopes dashed

Dhaka. National elections were held in Bangladesh for the first time since the 2024 uprising. People voted on parliamentary and constitutional changes. Bangladeshis expressed confidence in Tarique Rahman’s party, the BNP, while the Awami League abstained.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Tarique Rahman has claimed victory in Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election. Rahman, son of former Prime Minister and BNP Chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia, formally assumed the post of party chairman on January 9, shortly after her death.

National elections were held on February 12 for the first time since the massive 2024 uprising in Bangladesh. This is being considered a major moment in the country’s politics. The election was conducted under the supervision of Mohammad Yunus, the chief advisor to the interim government. People cast their votes from two perspectives: to elect a new parliament and to express their opinion on the proposed changes to the constitution (the July Charter).

BNP leader Tariq Rahman contested two seats and won both (Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6). Meanwhile, the Awami League was denied permission to contest the election, and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is out of the country, called the election a complete sham. This election will determine the country’s future political direction and the future of its citizens.

Tariq Rahman Appeals for Prayers Instead of Processions
Following the party’s landslide victory in the 13th general election, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Chairperson Tariq Rahman appealed to supporters to offer prayers and avoid victory processions. The party will hold a prayer meeting after the results are officially announced.

BNP Wins Two-Thirds Majority
The BNP appears to be proving predictions correct. Jamuna TV showed its alliance winning 209 seats, securing a two-thirds majority in the 300-member Jatiya Sangsad, or national assembly. Immediately after securing the majority in the overnight vote count, the party thanked and congratulated the people, urging them to offer special prayers on Friday for the well-being of the country and its people.

Student-led NCP Suffers Election Setback
The student-led National Citizen Party (NCP) suffered a setback in Bangladesh’s general election, winning only five of the 30 seats it contested. The party, led by young activists who played a key role in last year’s protests and presented itself as an alternative to two-party politics.

However, pre-election surveys indicated that street popularity would be difficult to translate into votes. The NCP later formed an alliance with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, which critics described as a compromise to its core principles.

BNP Claims Victory
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, claiming victory in the elections, congratulated the countrymen and urged supporters not to celebrate. Instead of celebrating the victory, the party urged supporters across the country to attend Friday prayers today and remember former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. This message from the BNP is being seen as a sign of restraint and political decorum. The party leadership also appealed to supporters to maintain peace and respect the democratic process.

BNP’s Double Century
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has secured a landslide victory in the 13th National Parliamentary Election, surpassing the 200-seat mark in unofficial results. According to the Election Commission’s centralized results released on Friday, the party has won 208 seats so far, putting it on track to form a government. The Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance has won 68 seats. Vote counting is still ongoing. According to local media reports, official results for 299 seats are expected to be announced by Friday afternoon.

Allegations of vote counting irregularities in Dhaka-13 Constituency
Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis Amir Maulana Mamnul Haq has alleged irregularities in the vote counting process in the Dhaka-13 constituency. He says that thousands of votes cast in his favor were rejected due to a poorly designed ballot paper. Mamnul Haque, a candidate supported by the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance, filed a formal complaint about the matter around 3 a.m. Thursday. The complaint was submitted to the returning officer for Dhaka-13 at the Bangladesh Election Commission headquarters in Agargaon. He demanded an investigation and a clear explanation.