In a historic political shift, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has achieved a decisive victory in Thursday’s parliamentary elections, marking a potential return to stability following the 2024 Gen Z uprising that toppled long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. According to Ekattor TV’s projections, the BNP secured 151 of the 300 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad national parliament, substantially exceeding the required majority threshold.
The elections featured unprecedented voter participation, with estimated turnout exceeding 60%—a significant increase from the 42% recorded in the contentious 2024 polls. The electoral landscape was notably competitive, with over 2,000 candidates representing a record number of at least 50 political parties, alongside numerous independent contenders.
BNP’s primary rival, the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami party, obtained 42 seats. Jamaat leader Shafiqur Rahman conceded defeat even before official confirmation of BNP’s majority was announced. The election in one constituency was postponed following the death of a candidate.
Led by prime ministerial candidate Tarique Rahman—son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and former President Ziaur Rahman—the BNP fielded candidates across 292 constituencies, allocating remaining seats to coalition partners comprising over half a dozen smaller parties.
The party’s campaign platform included commitments to provide financial assistance to impoverished families, implement a ten-year term limit for prime ministers, stimulate economic growth through foreign investment, and combat systemic corruption.
Simultaneously, Bangladesh conducted a referendum on the National Charter 2025—a governance framework document developed by the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, which establishes foundational principles for future administration.
Celebrations erupted among BNP supporters in Dhaka’s Gulshan district, where crowds chanted slogans upon unofficial reports of Tarique Rahman’s constituency victory. This electoral outcome positions the BNP to lead Bangladesh toward political normalization and economic revitalization, bearing the responsibility of fulfilling voter expectations and advancing national progress.