Tarique Rahman's BNP Claims Majority Victory in Landmark Bangladesh Elections

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by Tarique Rahman, is set to form the next government after securing a decisive victory in Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary elections held on Friday. According to provisional results reported by Jamuna TV, the BNP and its allies won 211 of the 299 contested seats, while the rival Jamaat-e-Islami alliance secured 70 seats. The new administration will replace the interim government that has been in place since the collapse of the Awami League regime in August 2024.

Voting took place alongside a referendum on an extensive 84-point reform plan known as the July National Charter. Counting began immediately after the polls closed at 4:30 pm local time, though voting continued in locations where citizens were still inside polling stations. Nearly 127 million registered voters, including five million first-time voters, were eligible to cast their ballots across 42,779 polling centers. One constituency’s election was canceled due to the death of a candidate.

Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus addressed the nation following the polls, urging political parties and candidates to uphold democratic norms and respect differing opinions. “Differences of opinion will exist, but in the national interest, we must remain united. Let’s work together to strengthen democracy,” Yunus said, describing the elections and referendum as a historic opportunity and calling it “the birthday of Bangladesh.”

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A total of 1,755 candidates from 50 political parties, along with 273 independents, contested the election. The BNP fielded the highest number of candidates at 291, including 83 women. Notably, this election marked the first in decades without a prominent female political leader in the spotlight. Former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was barred from contesting, and her long-time rival Khaleda Zia passed away in December 2025, ending an era in which the two women dominated Bangladeshi politics for roughly forty years.

Political analysts note that Tarique Rahman’s victory signals a significant shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape, with expectations of new policies and governance approaches following decades of Awami League dominance. The BNP has promised to prioritize accountability, inclusivity, and justice-based governance, and the nation now looks ahead to the formation of a stable administration.

Preparations for the transition of power are expected to begin immediately, with Rahman likely to assume office as Prime Minister in the coming weeks. Observers have highlighted the peaceful conduct of the election and the referendum as a positive step for democracy in Bangladesh, reflecting robust voter engagement and political participation nationwide.

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