Bangladesh Election Trends Show BNP Leading In Parliamentary Race
Early results indicate a strong BNP lead, signalling a major political shift in Bangladesh’s parliamentary landscape.
Preliminary results from Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election indicate a decisive win for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), with the party set to form the next government after crossing the threshold for a parliamentary majority. The election — held on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026 — marks the first nationwide vote since the political upheaval of 2024 that toppled long-time leader Sheikh Hasina and reshaped the country’s political landscape.
Early vote counts showed the BNP securing 151 or more seats in the 300-member Jatiya Sangsad, positioning the party above the 50 % mark needed for a simple majority. Local broadcasters and television networks reported the party securing strong leads across multiple constituencies, signaling broad support for the opposition after years of political unrest.
BNP leader Tarique Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is projected to become the next prime minister, returning from years abroad amid legal challenges and exile. He personally won seats in both the Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 constituencies, according to unofficial tallies, reinforcing his political resurgence and signaling a historic victory for his party.
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The elections were widely seen as a test of Bangladesh’s democratic resilience following the 2024 uprising and the removal of the Awami League from the ballot — the first such absence in decades. Voting took place across tens of thousands of constituencies under heightened security, with officials deploying hundreds of thousands of personnel to oversee the process and international observers monitoring the vote.
Despite the BNP’s success, not all political voices accepted the outcome. The Awami League, Bangladesh’s historically dominant party, dismissed the election as flawed and demanded a fresh vote, accusing the process of undermining democratic norms. This underscores lingering tensions and the challenge of stabilizing governance amid a dramatic shift in power.
Looking ahead, the BNP is expected to focus on governance reforms and economic priorities as it prepares to take office, while opposition groups, including Jamaat-e-Islami, are poised to serve as the primary opposition faction in parliament. Final official results are still pending as vote counting continues, but the trajectory points to a landmark victory for the BNP and a significant moment in Bangladesh’s political evolution.
Also Read: Bangladesh Holds First National Election Since 2024 Revolution With High Stakes
