Bangladeshs BNP wins landslide victory in countrys first election since 2024

Bangladesh Nationalist Party Secures 209 Seats in Landmark Election

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has claimed victory in the country’s first election since a student-led uprising that ousted longtime leader Sheikh Hasina in 2024. According to unofficial results confirmed by election officials, the BNP won 209 seats, surpassing the 151-seat threshold needed for a majority in parliament.

The party’s leader, Tarique Rahman, is set to become the country’s next prime minister. BNP officials stated that they expect to form a government by Sunday. The BNP was followed by Jamaat-e-Islami, which secured 68 seats in Thursday’s polls – its highest-ever tally.

Jamaat-e-Islami has raised concerns about the integrity of the results process and expressed dissatisfaction with the vote count. The National Citizen Party (NCP), led by youth activists instrumental in toppling Hasina, won just six of the 30 seats it contested.

Turnout stood at almost 60 percent of registered voters, exceeding the nearly 42 percent in the last election in 2024. The election featured a record number of parties and over 2,000 candidates, many of whom were independents.

The parliament comprises 350 lawmakers, with 50 seats reserved for women. Over 127 million people were eligible to cast their votes, with many expressing enthusiasm for what was seen as Bangladesh’s first competitive vote in years.

An interim government led by Nobel peace laureate Muhammad Yunus has been in office since Hasina fled to India in 2024 after widespread protests. Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh in December after 17 years of self-imposed exile in the United Kingdom.

The BNP has promised to prioritize job creation, protect low-income households, and ensure fair prices for farmers. The party’s manifesto also included promises to revive a stagnant economy, reset ties with regional countries, and crack down on corruption.

The Election Commission has yet to formally announce the final tally, which is expected either later on Friday or on Saturday.

Source: Al Jazeera