Bangladesh’s opposition party called the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has won a strong victory in the country’s parliamentary elections while marking its return to power after nearly 20 years. The results were announced on Friday and the win clears the way for party leader Tarique Rahman to become the next prime minister.
The Election Commission has stated that the BNP and its allies have secured at least 212 out of 299 contested seats in the national parliament which is known as the Jatiya Sangsad while the Jamaat-e-Islami and its partners won 77 seats. The outcome is being seen as one of the most decisive results in recent years.
Tarique Rahman who is currently 60 and is the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and former president Ziaur Rahman. Mr. Rahman has not made a public statement although his victory is quite clear. The BNP has also requested its supporters to not hold big victory rallies and instead offer prayers. Rahman briefly greeted people and waved when leaving his home for mosque prayers according to local media.
After months of political unrest and economic disruption finally the elections have occurred. Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s government collapsed in 2024 and since then an interim administration which was led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has been running the country.
Many believe a clear majority will help bring stability in Bangladesh. Selim Raihan an economics professor at the University of Dhaka has stated that a strong mandate could allow the BNP to pass reforms without political deadlock. Stability is especially important for Bangladesh’s garment industry which is the second largest exporter of apparel in the world. The sector has suffered due to unrest.
“For us, regular factory work and timely wages matter the most,”
-Josna Begum
who is a garment worker and expressed hope that the new government will restore normal business conditions in the country.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the US ambassador to Bangladesh congratulated Rahman on the presumed victory. India, China, and the United Stated all are seeking influence in Bangladesh due the strategic importance it hold in the South Asia.
Relations have been really tense between India and Bangladesh since last year Sheikh Hasina fled to India. Political observers have also stated that managing foreign relations will be one of Rahman’s biggest challenges.
Voter turnout has reportedly reached around 60 percent higher than in the previous election. A referendum on constitutional reforms was also held following the vote which includes proposals for term limits for prime ministers and stronger judicial independence. The final official results
of the referendum have not yet been confirmed and are awaited. The coming weeks will show how the BNP plans to steer Bangladesh through political recovery and also economic rebuilding.
Source: Reuters