Bangladesh Elections: BNP Emerges Victorious In First Polls Since Hasina's Ouster

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is set to return to power after securing a decisive victory in Thursday's landmark parliamentary election, according to projections aired by several leading television networks.

The win paves the way for party leader Tarique Rahman to assume office as the news Prime Minister, marking a dramatic political comeback nearly two decades after the party last held a full mandate.

Multiple broadcasters reported that the BNP crossed the simple majority mark in the 300-member Jatiya Sangsad, Bangladesh's national parliament. Jamuna TV projected the party winning 170 seats, while Somoy TV estimated it had secured 165 seats. Other channels, including DBC News, Desh TV and News24, also indicated that the BNP had comfortably obtained enough seats to form the next government. Early tallies suggested the rival Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance trailed far behind, with significantly fewer seats.

The BNP's official media cell declared victory on its verified Facebook page, stating that the party had won a majority and would proceed to form the government. The announcement triggered celebrations among supporters across parts of the country, though party leaders urged restraint.

The outcome represents a major shift in Bangladesh's political landscape. It follows the dramatic ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024, when a youth-led protest movement brought her long tenure to an end amid widespread anger over unemployment and limited economic opportunities. The BNP's resurgence signals a setback for those student-led groups that had hoped to reshape the political order after Hasina's removal.

Over 2,000 candidates, including a large number of independents, contested the polls. At least 50 political parties fielded candidates, making it one of the most crowded electoral contests in Bangladesh's history. Voting in one constituency was postponed following the death of a candidate.

In addition to the voting, voters also participated in a referendum on sweeping constitutional reforms. The proposals include establishing a neutral interim administration during election periods, creating a bicameral legislature, enhancing women's representation in parliament, strengthening judicial independence and imposing a two-term limit on the prime minister. The results of the referendum are expected to significantly influence the country's governance framework in the coming years.

Tarique Rahman, 60, the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and former President Ziaur Rahman, is poised to take charge from the interim administration led by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus. Yunus has overseen the country's affairs for the past year and a half following Hasina's departure and is expected to initiate the formal transfer of power within days.

The BNP's victory comes after years in political isolation. Following the Awami League's landslide win in 2008 under Hasina, the BNP boycotted multiple elections and saw many of its leaders jailed or forced into exile. Thursday's result marks its strongest political revival in years.

In a statement, the BNP called on supporters not to organize victory processions or rallies despite the scale of its triumph. Instead, it urged citizens to offer prayers in mosques, temples, churches and pagodas across the country.

Among its campaign pledges, the party promised financial assistance for low-income families, a 10-year cap on an individual serving as prime minister, anti-corruption measures and policies aimed at attracting foreign investment to stimulate economic growth.

Meanwhile, Shafiqur Rahman, leader of the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, conceded defeat and signaled a constructive role in parliament. The National Citizen Party, formed by youth activists who played a role in Hasina's ouster and allied with Jamaat, managed to win only a handful of seats, underscoring the scale of the BNP's electoral dominance.