Tarique Rahman-led BNP is set to form the new government in Bangladesh, as the party-led alliance won 211 of the 299 constituency seats in the 13th national elections held on Thursday. The rival Jamaat-e-Islami alliance too put up a good show, winning 70 seats.
The Bangladesh Parliament comprises 350 seats, of which 300 are elected directly from single-member constituencies. The remaining 50 are reserved for women. Elections were held for 299 seats due to the death of one candidate.
The BNP and its allies have already claimed the majority, according to reports quoting Jamuna TV broadcaster, although official results have not yet been released by the Bangladesh Election Commission. “Based on the vote count received so far and detailed seat-wise information, we are very hopeful about this victory,” BNP Central Election Steering Committee Spokesperson Mahdi Amin told journalists on Thursday.
The parties in the BNP alliance include Gono Odhikar Porishad and Gono Songhoti Andolon.
Islamic party Jamaat-e-Islami, which was once a close ally of the BNP, put up a good show, winning over 60 seats, according to the party sources. Its ally National Citizens Party (NCP), born out of the student-led uprising and a partner of the Jamaat-led alliance, won six constituencies.
Tarique wins Dhaka-17, Bogura-6
Chairman Tarique Rahman, who returned home after 17 years in exile in the UK, won from both Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6, two constituencies he contested from.
With the decisive win, Rahman is expected to form the government. He has made promises, including weeding out corruption and bringing in a new era of clean politics in Bangladesh.
Rezaul Karim Rony, a Dhaka-based political analyst, said the BNP’s win is the “victory of a democratic, moderate force”. “The challenge now is to ensure good governance, law and order, and public safety, and to establish a rights-based state, which was at the heart of the aspirations of the 2024 mass uprising,” he told Al Jazeera.
Also read
- Bangladesh elections: Will Tarique Rahman become next PM? Early trends claim BNP leader will take Dhaka
- Bangladesh may turn into another Afghanistan if Jamaat-e-Islami comes to power, warns Taslima Nasreen
- Bangladesh polls: BNP's reform agenda, Jamaat-NCP's identity pitch, and the key question of Awami votes
Rony said the job ahead for Tarique Rahman of the BNP is moving away from cadre-based politics towards a rights-based system that reflects younger generations’ desire for more inclusive governance.
“The task now is to build a state based on that spirit – ensuring the rule of law, human dignity and employment opportunities,” he said, adding: “The question now is how Tarique Rahman will confront this responsibility.”
Modi congratulate Rahman
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has conveyed his “warm congratulations” to “Tarique Rahman on leading BNP to a decisive victory in the Parliamentary elections in Bangladesh.” “This victory shows the trust of the people of Bangladesh in your leadership,” Modi said in a post on social media. “India will continue to stand in support of a democratic, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh,” Modi added.
