Bangladesh Election: Jamaat-e-Islami Demands Recount in 30 Seats Over Alleged Irregularities

Dhaka – Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has formally requested a recount in 30 constituencies following the February 13th parliamentary election, alleging irregularities in the vote-counting process, a party spokesperson announced Saturday.

Ehsanul Mahbub Zubayer, assistant secretary general and head of Jamaat’s central publicity department, urged electoral authorities to suspend the swearing-in of declared winners in the disputed constituencies pending the completion of a recount. He claimed the results were “deliberately altered to defeat the candidates of Jamaat and the 11-party alliance,” and suggested complicity among administrative officials and members of the Election Commission.

The call for a recount comes as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), poised to form the next government, prepares for a transition of power following the landslide victory that ousted Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League. Unofficial results and subsequently official results released by the Election Commission, indicate the BNP secured 209 seats in the 350-member parliament, known as the Jatiya Sangsad. Jamaat-e-Islami emerged as the main opposition party, winning 68 seats, according to the Election Commission’s tally.

The BNP-led alliance secured a total of 212 seats, comfortably exceeding the majority mark, although the National Citizen Party (NCP), an alliance partner with Jamaat, won six seats. The results in Chittagong-2 and Chittagong-4 constituencies remain pending due to ongoing court cases, and the gazette notification for Sherpur-2 has been delayed.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s allegations of irregularities follow a period of heightened political tension in Bangladesh, culminating in the first elections since the 2024 student-led uprising that led to Hasina’s removal from office. The election also coincided with a national referendum on “the July Charter,” a proposed set of reforms aimed at restructuring state institutions.

Voter turnout in the election was reported at 59.88 percent, described by observers as one of the most peaceful and credible elections in decades. The Election Commission has not yet responded to Jamaat-e-Islami’s specific allegations or request for a recount. The party stated We see pursuing legal remedies to address the concerns raised.