Bangladesh to Hold Presidential Election in 2026

Bangladesh Nationalist Party Declares Victory in Historic Election

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, has declared victory in the country’s first elections since the 2024 student-led uprising that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. According to unofficial results released by the Election Commission (EC) on Friday, the BNP has won 209 seats out of a total of 297 announced.

Jamaat-e-Islami, which was banned by the previous government, has registered its best performance, winning 68 seats and emerging as the main opposition party in the 350-member parliament. The National Citizen Party (NCP), a political party born out of the protests, is in third place with six seats.

The BNP claimed victory on social media, stating that it will form the government after winning the majority of seats. Tarique Rahman, the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is likely to be the next prime minister if the results are officially confirmed.

Voter turnout was 59.88 percent in the elections, according to the EC. The BNP won 209 seats, Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats, and the NCP won six seats. Other parties won seven seats, while independent candidates won the remaining seven seats.

The Election Commission has yet to announce the official results, but both the BNP and NCP have alleged irregularities and result tampering. Jamaat-e-Islami has expressed concerns about the process surrounding the election results, citing inconsistencies and fabrications in unofficial announcements.

The BNP chairman, Tarique Rahman, has been declared elected in two constituencies, while Jamaat leader Shafiqur Rahman won a seat in another constituency. The NCP’s party leader, Nahid Islam, became one of the youngest MPs in the new parliament after winning his seat.

The general elections were accompanied by a national referendum on “the July Charter”, aimed at reforming state institutions.

Source: Al Jazeera