BNP achieves historic victory in Bangladesh, secures two-thirds majority

Dhaka, February 13 (Agency) The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has achieved a two-thirds majority along with its supporters. The BNP alliance has secured 212 out of 299 seats. According to unofficial results, the party led by Khaleda Zia's son and prime ministerial candidate, Tareq Rahman, has won 191 seats, while its alliance has secured 212 seats.

According to unofficial results, Khaleda Zia's son and BNP Chairman Tareq Rahman has been successful in both Dhaka and Bogra seats. The Jamaat-e-Islami has become the second-largest party with 70 seats, while the Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, which fielded candidates in 30 seats, has won five seats. According to unofficial results, 73% have supported the constitutional reforms in the referendum. The BNP has directed its workers to refrain from celebrations and offer prayers for the betterment of the country.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by Tareq Rahman, has achieved a significant majority in the parliamentary elections held on Friday, winning 210 out of 300 seats in the 13th National Assembly. This outcome is being seen as a restoration of political stability in the South Asian country. The election, held on Thursday, was the first national election in Bangladesh after the 2024 student-led uprising that toppled the long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

According to the latest figures from the Bangladesh government, the BNP has secured 210 seats, while the Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies have won 73 seats, and independent candidates have eight seats in the 300-member parliament. A simple majority of 151 seats is required for a party or alliance to form a government in the 300-member national assembly.

The BNP, led by Prime Minister candidate Tareq Rahman, the 60-year-old son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and former President Ziaur Rahman, has promised financial assistance for low-income families, a 10-year limit for individuals serving as prime minister, measures to boost the economy, including attracting foreign investment, and strong anti-corruption policies.

The election saw a direct contest between the BNP and its former ally, the Jamaat-e-Islami, as Sheikh Hasina's Awami League was barred from contesting. Bangladesh has been governed by a caretaker administration led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus for the past 18 months.

The BNP's leadership, led by Prime Minister candidate Tareq Rahman, the 60-year-old son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and former President Ziaur Rahman, has achieved a significant majority. Meanwhile, the head of the BNP's main rival, Jamaat-e-Islami, Shafiqur Rahman, has conceded defeat. Shafiqur Rahman said that Jamaat-e-Islami would not engage in "opposition for the sake of opposition" politics. He told journalists that "we will do positive politics."

The parliamentary election held on Thursday was the first vote in Bangladesh after the 2024 "Generation Z"-led movement that toppled the long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In the Muslim-majority country of over 170 million people, a clear electoral outcome was seen as crucial for stability after months of anti-Sheikh Hasina violent protests that disrupted daily life and affected major industries, including Bangladesh's garment sector, the world's second-largest exporter.

The election was also the first national election in the region after recent movements led by individuals under the age of 30. In Bangladesh, the party that wins 151 seats out of the 300 directly elected seats will form the government. One seat has been postponed.

According to the Election Commission, voting took place in 42,761 polling stations set up in 64 districts across the country for 299 parliamentary constituencies. Fifty seats are reserved for women, which are distributed based on proportional representation. The turnout in Thursday's polling appeared to have surpassed the 42% recorded in the previous election in 2024. Local media reported that over 60% of registered voters were expected to cast their votes.

More than 2,000 candidates, including many independent candidates, were in the fray at the time of polling, while at least 50 parties contested the seats, a national record. Voting was postponed in one constituency after the death of a candidate. Alongside the general election, a national referendum was also held. According to results received from Dhaka, 73% of voters have cast their votes in favor of constitutional reforms.

The referendum asked voters to choose yes or no, and the outcome is expected to determine the country's future political and constitutional framework, including comprehensive constitutional reforms under the July National Charter. There has been no official statement on the referendum results. Leading local newspaper Prothom Alo reported that the "yes" or positive vote was ahead in the count.