Jamaat‑e‑Islami

Dhaka, Bangladesh – The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has secured a landslide victory in the nation’s parliamentary election, according to local television stations, marking a significant shift in the political landscape of the South Asian country. The win is expected to usher in a period of renewed political stability following months of unrest and the recent exile of long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Led by Tarique Rahman, the 60-year-classic son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and former President Ziaur Rahman, the BNP appears to have won a two-thirds majority of the 300 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad, or House of the Nation. Local TV stations reported the scale of the victory late Thursday as vote counting continued across Bangladesh.

The election represents the first vote in Bangladesh since the 2024 uprising, largely driven by Gen Z activists, that led to the departure of Sheikh Hasina, who now resides in New Delhi, India. The unrest had severely disrupted daily life and negatively impacted key industries, particularly the country’s vital garment sector, the world’s second-largest.

Shafiqur Rahman, head of the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami party, conceded defeat, with his party-led alliance securing only 68 seats. The National Citizen Party (NCP), a youth-led group instrumental in the protests against Hasina, won just five of the 30 seats it contested, signaling a potential waning of influence for the protest movement in the formal political arena.

Alongside the parliamentary election, preliminary results indicate that voters approved a referendum to reform the constitution, aiming to safeguard against future authoritarian rule. The proposed reforms, dubbed the “July Charter,” were drafted in the wake of the 2024 uprising and focus on establishing good governance, democracy, and social justice.

Turnout for the election appears to have exceeded the 42 percent recorded in the 2024 vote, with local media reporting expectations of over 60 percent of registered voters casting ballots. More than 2,000 candidates from at least 50 parties contested the election – a national record – reflecting a highly competitive political environment.

The election marks a dramatic turnaround for Tarique Rahman, who left Bangladesh in 2008 citing medical needs after being released from detention during a military-backed caretaker administration following a crackdown on corruption. He faced numerous corruption charges and was convicted in absentia under Sheikh Hasina’s rule, including a life sentence in 2018 related to a 2004 grenade attack on a rally attended by Hasina. Although, he has since been acquitted of all charges following Hasina’s removal from power.

Rahman returned to Bangladesh in December to a hero’s welcome after the uprising ended Hasina’s rule. He has pledged to recalibrate Bangladesh’s international partnerships, seeking to attract investment without becoming overly reliant on any single nation, a contrast to Hasina’s perceived alignment with New Delhi. He has also outlined plans to expand financial aid for impoverished families, diversify the economy beyond garment exports by promoting industries like toys and leather goods, and introduce a two-term, 10-year limit for prime ministers to prevent the concentration of power.

Despite a history of past elections marred by allegations of corruption, vote-rigging, and opposition boycotts, many Bangladeshis expressed optimism about this election heralding a new era for the country. Nazmul Haque, a voter who had abstained from voting in the previous three elections, described feeling “relaxed” and “great” while waiting to cast his ballot. “All I can say is God bless Bangladesh,” he said.

The atmosphere at polling stations was celebratory, with decorations and refreshments offered to voters. Chowdhury Maria Tabassaum, a first-time voter who participated in the 2024 protests, stated, “I was a part of [the] 2024 student movement and I’m really proud that now I can practise my rights and my right to vote.” She emphasized the importance of the election for those who risked their lives during the protests.