The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Emerges Victorious in General Elections
In a significant turn of events, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has taken a commanding lead over its former ally, Jamaat-e-Islami, as the tallying of votes for the crucial general elections progresses. These elections hold immense importance as they are set to replace the interim administration that assumed power following the collapse of the Awami League regime in August 2024.
With the absence of the ousted premier Sheikh Hasina’s disbanded Awami League, the current electoral battle primarily revolves around a direct competition between the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami.
Unofficial results pouring in after midnight indicate that the BNP is in the lead across most constituencies. According to the latest unofficial tallies by Ittefaq newspaper, the BNP has secured 158 seats, with Jamaat trailing at 41 and other parties clinching five seats. The counting process has been completed for 204 out of the total 299 constituencies where polling took place.
Initial reports strongly suggest that the BNP is poised to emerge victorious in the elections.
Notable unofficial results reveal that BNP chairman Khaleda Zia’s son, Tarique Rahman, has secured a win in his home district of Bugura. Rahman garnered an impressive 2,16,284 votes, as confirmed by the returning officer of the constituency. His Jamaat counterpart, Abidur Rahman, received 97,626 votes in comparison.
Furthermore, the BNP had previously announced that in the event of their electoral success, Tarique Rahman would assume the position of the next prime minister of Bangladesh, effectively concluding the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government’s 18-month rule.
Other key victories include BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s triumph in the northwestern Thakurgaon constituency with 2,34,144 votes, surpassing his Jamaat rival Delwar Hossain who received 1,37,281 votes.
Additionally, Jamaat’s secretary general Mia Golam Porwar faced defeat against BNP’s Ali Asghar Lobby at a southwestern Khulna constituency. While Porwar secured 1,44,956 votes, Lobby emerged victorious with 1,47,658 votes.
The 13th parliamentary elections were conducted simultaneously with a referendum on the implementation of the comprehensive 84-point reform package known as the July National Charter. The voting concluded at 4:30 pm local time, followed by the prompt commencement of the vote-counting process.
Expressing confidence in their impending success, BNP Election Steering Committee spokesperson Mahdi Amin stated that the party’s victory is inevitable and evident.
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami, with its historical opposition to Bangladesh’s independence from Pakistan in 1971, aims to establish the country’s first Islamist-led government under the leadership of its 67-year-old chief, Shafiqur Rahman.
The Election Commission undertook extensive security measures for the elections, deploying nearly 1 million security personnel, marking the largest security presence in the country’s electoral history.
