Main rival Jamaat-e-Islami challenges “integrity of the process” in election that barred ousted premier Hasina’s party from polls.
Dhaka, Bangladesh – The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has declared a resounding victory in the country’s first general election since the 2024 uprising, positioning its leader, Tarique Rahman, to become the next prime minister. However, the main opposition coalition has rejected the preliminary results, alleging serious irregularities in the vote-counting process.
While the Election Commission has yet to release final official figures, local media projections on Friday painted a picture of a decisive mandate for the BNP. Broadcasters estimated the party had secured a clear parliamentary majority, with some projections suggesting it could win more than two-thirds of the 300 seats up for grabs.
Despite the projected win, the BNP urged restraint. “There will be no victory rally despite the BNP’s sweeping victory,” said senior leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi in a party statement, calling for supporters to offer prayers of thanksgiving at mosques rather than take to the streets.
Islamist Party Alleges ‘Inconsistencies’
The celebratory mood was immediately challenged by the Jamaat-e-Islami party, the largest Islamist group in the nation and the head of a major opposition coalition. The party expressed deep dissatisfaction with the process, citing “repeated inconsistencies and fabrications in unofficial result announcements.”
In a statement, Jamaat-e-Islami said it had “serious questions about the integrity of the results process.” While the party did not provide immediate evidence, its challenge casts a shadow over the election’s legitimacy. Media projections indicated Jamaat had won a significantly increased number of seats—estimated at 74—but fell far short of the governing majority it had campaigned for.
International Community Reacts
The disputed results did not deter swift international reactions. The United States embassy in Dhaka congratulated the BNP and Tarique Rahman on what it termed a “historic victory.” Neighbouring India also acknowledged Rahman’s “decisive win,” despite recent strains in bilateral relations. The Prime Minister of Pakistan added his congratulations, praising the “successful conduct of elections” by the Bangladeshi people.
A Vote for Change After a Turbulent Era
This election marks a pivotal moment for the South Asian nation of 170 million. It is the first national vote since longtime autocratic leader Sheikh Hasina was ousted in a deadly uprising in August 2024.
The BNP, which was marginalized during Hasina’s 15-year rule, entered the election with confidence. “We are confident,” Tarique Rahman told AFP just days before the polling.
The vote was fundamentally reshaped by the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. His administration barred Hasina’s Awami League party from participating. Hasina, who is currently in hiding in India and was recently sentenced to death in absentia for crimes against humanity, condemned the election as “illegal and unconstitutional.”
For many voters, the day represented a new beginning. “Over the last 17 years, we have suffered a lot,” said Md Fazlur Rahman, 45, a BNP supporter celebrating outside party offices. “We will join the nation-building effort led by Tarique Rahman.”
Interim leader Muhammad Yunus, who will hand over power to the new government, has urged national unity. After casting his vote, the 85-year-old said the country had “ended the nightmare and begun a new dream.”
A Referendum on the Future
In addition to electing a new parliament, voters participated in a concurrent referendum on a sweeping democratic reform charter championed by Yunus. The proposals aim to overhaul what he called a “completely broken” system and include measures such as prime ministerial term limits, the creation of a new upper house of parliament, and greater judicial independence. Local television projections suggested the public had backed the charter.
Despite a campaign marred by violence that left five dead and over 600 injured, the Election Commission reported that polling day was largely peaceful, with only “a few minor disruptions.” Heavy security was deployed nationwide to ensure order.
