BNP secures commanding majority as Bangladesh counts post-uprising election

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has emerged with a decisive parliamentary majority as counting continues from Dhaka’s landmark general election, the first since a deadly 2024 uprising ended years of one-party dominance.

According to the latest unofficial results, the BNP has won 198 seats, while Jamaat-e-Islami secured 62 seats. The youth-led National Citizen Party (NCP) won two seats, with results in several constituencies still pending or withheld on legal grounds.

Polling concluded on Thursday evening, with hand counting beginning immediately under heavy security. The vote is widely seen as Bangladesh’s most competitive election in nearly two decades, following the student-led uprising that forced former prime minister Sheikh Hasina from power in August 2024.

The BNP, returning to power after nearly 20 years, urged restraint despite its strong showing.

In a statement, the party said no victory rallies would be held, calling instead for nationwide prayers.

“Despite winning by a large margin, no celebratory procession or rally shall be organised,” the statement said, citing the party’s responsibility to preserve stability.

A clear outcome had been viewed as critical for the Muslim-majority nation of roughly 170 million people, after months of unrest disrupted daily life and key industries, including garments, Bangladesh’s largest export sector.

BNP leader Tarique Rahman, who returned from years in exile late last year, is widely expected to lead the next government. The transition was overseen by interim chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who assumed office after Hasina fled the country.

At the BNP headquarters in Dhaka, supporters gathered overnight as the scale of the party’s victory became apparent. Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman struck a conciliatory tone, saying his party would accept the outcome if the prevailing trend held.

“We will do positive politics,” he told reporters, adding that national interest would remain the party’s priority.

The Election Commission said results in three constituencies, Sherpur-2, Chittagong-2 and Chittagong-4, have been temporarily withheld due to pending legal cases involving winning candidates.

“The commission is legally obligated to withhold publication of results until final disposal of the relevant cases,” said EC official Md Shahidul Islam.

Turnout appeared higher than in the previous election, with officials earlier reporting participation approaching the mid-40% range by late afternoon. Voting was held in 299 constituencies, with one seat postponed following a candidate’s death.

59% voter turnout 

Voter turnout in the 13th National Parliamentary Election held on February 12 reached 59.44%, according to the Election Commission of Bangladesh (EC).

The information was released on Friday at 11:30 a.m. through a brief statement by Md Ruhul Amin Mallik, Director of the EC’s Public Relations Division.

Several parties raised concerns after preliminary results were announced. The NCP demanded recounts in multiple constituencies, alleging discrepancies between centre-level counts, media tallies and official announcements.

“We are getting clear evidence of result tampering aimed at top candidates,” NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Shojib Bhuyain said at a late-night press conference.

Despite these challenges, senior BNP figures framed the outcome as a mandate accompanied by responsibility. BNP standing committee member Salahuddin Ahmed said the party would avoid triumphalism.

“We have many responsibilities ahead,” he said. “We do not want to create any tension through celebratory rallies.”

Alongside the parliamentary vote, a nationwide referendum on constitutional reforms was held, proposing term limits for prime ministers, stronger judicial independence and changes to parliamentary structure. Official results of the referendum have yet to be announced.

International reactions

Regional and international leaders moved quickly to respond to the outcome of Bangladesh’s landmark election, praising the peaceful conduct of the vote and the clear result.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari congratulated BNP leader Rahman on the party’s landslide victory and extended greetings to the people of Bangladesh for what he described as a successful and orderly election.

In a statement, Zardari said Pakistan “felicitates Tarique Rahman on the decisive mandate” and congratulated Bangladesh’s citizens for participating in peaceful polls, reaffirming Islamabad’s support for democratic governance and closer bilateral cooperation.

He said Pakistan looked forward to strengthening ties “based on shared democratic values and mutual progress.”

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a post on X on Friday, stated: "I extend my warmest felicitations to Mr. Tarique Rahman on leading the BNP to a resounding victory in the Parliamentary elections in Bangladesh. I also congratulate the people of Bangladesh on the successful conduct of the elections."

"I look forward to working closely with the new Bangladesh leadership to further strengthen our historic, brotherly multifaceted bilateral relations and advance our shared goals of peace, stability, and development in South Asia and beyond."

The United States also welcomed the result, offering congratulations to both voters and the winning party.

“Congratulations to the people of Bangladesh on a successful election, and to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Tarique Rahman on your historic victory,” the US embassy in Dhaka said in a statement.

It added that Washington “looks forward to working with the new leadership to advance shared goals of prosperity, security and regional stability.”

As counting continues and final results are certified, analysts say the coming days will test whether Bangladesh’s post-uprising transition delivers political stability and restores public trust in democratic institutions.