BNP crosses majority mark in first national polls after 2024 student protests and Sheikh Hasina’s exit; official results awaited
Dhaka: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, BNP, led by Tariq Rahman, is heading towards a landslide victory in the first general elections held after the 2024 student protests that led to the exit of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
According to party sources and local media projections, the BNP has crossed the majority mark in the 300-seat Jatiya Sangsad, positioning Tariq Rahman as the frontrunner for the post of Prime Minister.
BNP Claims “Huge Victory”
In an official statement, senior BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi declared that the party had achieved a “huge victory,” though he did not disclose detailed seat figures. He appealed to party supporters to avoid public celebrations and instead offer prayers.
“Despite the BNP’s massive victory, there will be no victory parade. Special prayers will be held in mosques after Jumma across the country,” the statement said.
Broadcasts by Bangladeshi television channels indicated that the BNP had crossed the 150-seat threshold, ensuring a clear parliamentary majority. Reports from Jamuna TV and Somoy TV projected that the BNP had secured around 197 seats.
The Jamaat-e-Islami-led Islamic alliance was estimated to have won 63 seats, marking a significant improvement over its previous performance but falling short of expectations for outright victory.
Counting Still Underway, Final Results Pending
Voting was conducted in 300 constituencies. While counting continues in 299 constituencies, the Election Commission has not yet announced the final official results.
Additionally, 50 seats reserved for women will be allocated later in accordance with party lists, as per constitutional provisions.
Who Will Be the Next Prime Minister?
Tariq Rahman, 60, is widely seen as the likely next Prime Minister. Speaking to AFP two days before polling, he expressed confidence that the BNP would return to power after 15 years of rule under Sheikh Hasina.
BNP election committee spokesman Mahdi Amin stated that the party was on track to secure a decisive mandate. Rahman reportedly won both constituencies he contested, buoyed by strong grassroots support.
“We will engage in the work of nation building under the leadership of Tariq Rahman,” Mohammad Fazlur Rahman, a supporter, told AFP, describing years of hardship under the previous regime.
Political Transition After the Hasina Era
The election marks a turning point in Bangladesh’s political history following the departure of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024 amid massive student-led protests.
In the interim period, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus, 85, assumed leadership of the country. His administration barred Hasina’s Awami League party from contesting the elections.
After casting his vote, Yunus stated that Bangladesh had “ended a terrible dream and begun a new one,” signalling a new political chapter for the nation.
On the Other hand, political analysts caution that stability will depend on how smoothly the transition of power unfolds and whether all stakeholders accept the final outcome once officially declared.
