- Tarique Rahman-led BNP races towards decisive victory
- First election since July 2024 uprising that ousted Sheikh Hasina
- Over 127 million voters participated across 299 seats
- World leaders, including PM Modi, congratulate Rahman
GG News Bureau
Dhaka, 13th Feb: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, appeared set for a decisive victory in the country’s national election held on Thursday, marking a major political shift after nearly two decades.
Rahman, who returned to the country after 17 years in exile, steered the party towards what early trends indicated was a comfortable win. The BNP called for nationwide prayers instead of celebratory processions as it prepared to return to power for the first time since former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s tenure ended in 2006.
While the Jamaat-e-Islami conceded defeat, its ally, the National Citizen Party, alleged tampering in the results and demanded an audit before the final declaration.
The election was the first since the July 2024 uprising that ended former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule. According to the Election Commission of Bangladesh, more than 127 million eligible voters participated in the polls across 299 parliamentary constituencies. A total of 1,981 candidates contested the election, while voting was cancelled in one constituency following the death of a candidate.
Bangladesh’s political landscape has long been dominated by two rival political families. The Awami League was led by Sheikh Hasina, while the BNP is now headed by Tarique Rahman, the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who died in December.
An 11-party coalition led by the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami challenged the BNP in the election and is expected to emerge as the principal opposition bloc.
Among the leaders who congratulated Rahman were Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and the United States Ambassador to Bangladesh.
