DHAKA — The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won a commanding two-thirds majority in Friday’s general election, preliminary counts showed, positioning the party to form a stable government after months of political tumult.
The BNP and its allies secured at least 213 of the 299 seats contested, according to domestic TV channels. The opposition Jamaat-e-Islami and its partners won 76 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad, or House of the Nation.
The result marks the BNP’s return to power after 20 years in opposition and is seen as the South Asian nation’s first truly competitive election in decades.
BNP leader Tarique Rahman is widely expected to be sworn in as prime minister. The son of party founder and former president Ziaur Rahman returned to Dhaka in December after 18 years abroad.
The election was viewed as crucial for stability in the Muslim-majority nation of 175 million following months of deadly unrest that toppled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024. Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has served as interim head since Hasina fled to India.
The BNP urged supporters to refrain from victory processions, instead calling for nationwide prayers. “Despite winning … by a large margin of votes, no celebratory procession or rally shall be organised,” the party said.
Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman conceded defeat and pledged constructive opposition. “We will do positive politics,” he told reporters.
Turnout appeared to exceed 60%, a sharp increase from the 42% recorded in the disputed 2024 election, which the BNP had boycotted.
A concurrent referendum on constitutional reforms—including prime ministerial term limits and stronger judicial independence—also appeared to pass, though official results are pending.
