DHAKA: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a landslide victory in the country’s parliamentary election, according to results aired by local television stations on Friday, marking a pivotal moment in Bangladesh’s political landscape.
The vote, held on Thursday, was the first national election since the 2024 Gen Z-led uprising that toppled long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Observers had described the election as crucial for restoring political stability in the Muslim-majority nation of 175 million people following months of unrest that disrupted daily life and impacted key industries, including the apparel sector in the world’s second-largest garment-exporting country.
According to Jamuna TV, the BNP-led coalition won 209 seats in the 300-member Jatiya Sangsad (House of the Nation), securing an overwhelming two-thirds majority.
Opinion polls had indicated a strong lead for the BNP ahead of the vote, and the results aligned with those projections.
The party’s campaign platform included financial assistance for low-income families, introducing a 10-year limit for an individual to serve as prime minister, strengthening the economy through increased foreign investment, and implementing anti-corruption measures.
Following the announcement of the results after overnight vote counting, the BNP issued a statement thanking voters and congratulating the people of Bangladesh. The party called for special prayers for the welfare of the country and urged supporters not to organize celebratory processions or rallies despite the decisive victory.
“Despite winning the national parliamentary election by a large margin of votes, no celebratory procession or rally shall be organised by BNP,” the statement said, encouraging citizens to offer prayers at mosques, temples, churches, and pagodas across the country.
The BNP is led by Tarique Rahman, 60, a leading prime ministerial contender and the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and former President Ziaur Rahman.
The election outcome is widely seen as a significant development that could reshape Bangladesh’s political direction following a period of intense political upheaval.
