Dhaka: Bangladesh’s main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), is set to secure a commanding majority in the country’s 13th parliamentary elections, marking a dramatic political shift 18 months after the ouster of long-time leader Sheikh Hasina.
The BNP won 73 of the first 100 declared seats—an early indication of a landslide—according to the first batch of results released by the Election Commission. Early trends from 41 constituencies showed BNP candidates leading in most of the races.
The outcome positions BNP chairman Tarique Rahman, 60, as the frontrunner to become Bangladesh’s next prime minister. If confirmed, he would be the country’s first male head of government in 36 years, ending a long period dominated by female leaders.
For decades, Bangladesh stood out globally for being led by women: Rahman’s mother Khaleda Zia of the BNP served two full terms, while Hasina of the Awami League governed for four terms spanning 15 years.
The 12 February general election was the first since a youth-led uprising toppled Hasina’s rule. The protests, driven largely by Generation Z activists, ended what critics had described as an increasingly authoritarian and corrupt administration.
Rahman was unofficially declared elected in both Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 constituencies. In Dhaka-17, he secured 72,699 votes, defeating his nearest rival from Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, S.M. Khaliduzzaman, who received 68,300 votes—a margin of 4,399.
The BNP’s success extended deep into areas once considered bastions of the Awami League. In the districts of Gopalganj, Shariatpur, Madaripur and Faridpur, the party captured 11 of 13 seats, data showed.
The dual victories, once confirmed, will underscore Rahman’s consolidation of support in both urban and regional constituencies.
In a post on X, BNP’s media cell claimed victory, saying, “The Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP is set to form the government after victory in the majority of seats.” According to an EC spokesperson, the results in several seats were still being processed and were likely to be announced later in the day.
The BNP had earlier announced that if it wins the election, its chairman and former premier Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman would be the next prime minister of Bangladesh.
“We are confident of forming the government by winning more than two-thirds of seats,” BNP’s central election steering committee spokesman Mahdi Amin told a media briefing in the early hours of Friday, PTI reported.
Nonetheless, BNP leaders Friday urged supporters to refrain from public celebrations, calling instead for nationwide prayers and calm.
Shafiqur Rahman, the head of BNP’s main rival, Jamaat-e-Islami, conceded defeat and said the party would not engage in the “politics of opposition” for the sake of it.
“We will do positive politics,” Reuters quoted him as saying.
The National Citizen Party (NCP), led by youth activists who were instrumental in toppling Hasina and was a part of the Jamaat-led alliance, won just five of 30 seats it contested, according to local TV reports.
In a televised address Tuesday, Rahman acknowledged his party’s past shortcomings and apologised to voters. He pledged strict anti-corruption measures, restoration of the rule of law and accountable governance.
“If the BNP is given the responsibility to run the state, we will build a self-reliant Bangladesh,” he said, promising timely implementation of a national pay scale for government employees and equitable development across sectors.
He emphasised inclusivity, stating that Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, believers and non-believers alike would remain secure under BNP leadership.
Calling the election a “historic milestone”, Rahman said the previous administration had “taken away ownership of the state from the people and seized all democratic political rights”, adding that the latest vote restored that ownership through “long movements and sacrifices”.
More than 2,000 candidates, including Independents, were in the fray for 299 of the 300 parliamentary constituencies that went to the polls Thursday. Election for one seat was postponed due to the death of a candidate.
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