BNP sweeps Bangladesh’s first polls after Sheikh Hasina’s ouster

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party-led alliance on Friday won 212 seats of the 299 constituencies that went to polls in Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election a day earlier, Prothom Alo quoted the Election Commission as saying.

The alliance led by the Islamist party, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami emerged as the main Opposition with 77 seats, the newspaper reported.

Earlier in the day, the Tarique Rahman-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party claimed victory as trends indicated it would cross the majority mark.

সংখ্যাগরিষ্ঠ আসনে জয়ী হয়ে সরকার গঠন করতে যাচ্ছে বাংলাদেশ জাতীয়তাবাদী দল-বিএনপি।#BNP #BNPMediaCell#KhaledaZia #Zia #TariqueRahman pic.twitter.com/AWf18bswQI— BNP Media Cell (@BNPBdMediaCell) February 12, 2026

This was the first national election since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government was ousted following widespread protests in 2024.

Voting took place in 299 constituencies. Polling in one constituency in the northern district of Sherpur was postponed because a candidate died during the campaign, Al Jazeera reported.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party also thanked its supporters for their role in the election but declined to hold victory rallies or processions, Reuters reported. Instead, the party called for special Friday prayers for the welfare of Bangladesh.

In this election, two coalitions led by former allies, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Islamist outfit Jamaat-e-Islami were in direct contest. Hasina’s Awami League could not participate in the election as its activities have been banned in the country.

Besides the parliamentary election, the...

Read more