BNP crosses majority mark in Bangladesh polls as Tarique Rahman wins two seats, set to form next government. Photos: X.
Bangladesh Election Results: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, is heading toward a sweeping electoral victory, according to projections aired by Bangladeshi television stations on Friday. At around 5:30 am local time, broadcasters projected that the BNP had crossed the crucial 150-seat mark required for a parliamentary majority. Jamuna and Somoy television channels reported that the party had won 197 seats, comfortably placing it above the threshold to form the next government.
Mahdi Amin, spokesperson for the BNP’s election committee, told reporters the party was on course for an even stronger mandate.
“Buoyed by strong public support, the BNP will secure a two-thirds majority and form the government,” Amin said, adding that party chief Tarique Rahman had won “both seats” he contested.
Rahman emerged victorious in the Dhaka-17 constituency and Bogura-6.
The Islamist-led coalition headed by Jamaat-e-Islami was projected to win 63 seats, a significant improvement over its past performances, but well below the outright majority it had campaigned for.
Shafiqur Rahman, head of Jamaat-e-Islami, said his party would accept the electoral outcome.
He stated that Jamaat would respect the results “whatever they may be,” and would not engage in obstructive “politics of opposition” if it failed to secure victory.
Alongside the parliamentary election, Bangladesh held a national referendum on the 2024 July Charter.
The charter was drafted with the stated aim of strengthening governance, democracy and social justice through institutional reforms. It also seeks to prevent the “recurrence of authoritarian and fascist rule.”
The elections concluded earlier on Thursday.
Since August 2024, Bangladesh has been governed by an interim administration led by Nobel laureate economist Muhammad Yunus.
Nearly two years after the country entered its latest phase of political turbulence, Dhaka is now poised to usher in a new government — with Tarique Rahman widely seen as the frontrunner.
Often referred to as Bangladesh’s “dark prince” for operating largely behind the scenes during his mother’s tenure, Rahman has re-emerged at a critical moment for the country’s political future.
Tarique Rahman, the eldest son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is likely to be elected as the next Prime Minister of the country. During her tenure, he earned the nicknames “dark prince” and “shadow PMO,” amid widespread belief that he wielded significant influence from behind the scenes.
Between 2001 and 2006, it was widely perceived that Rahman was effectively running key affairs of government while his mother formally held office.
From 2006 to 2008, Bangladesh was gripped by violent civil unrest. The turmoil culminated in the establishment of a military-backed caretaker government. During this period, Rahman was arrested on money laundering charges. He was also accused of plotting an assassination attempt against Sheikh Hasina and one of her aides.
On December 25, 2025, Tarique Rahman returned to Dhaka ahead of the national vote. He was greeted by large crowds, including long-time BNP supporters.
Addressing supporters, Rahman pledged to restore peace and stability to Bangladesh and vowed to build a nation “we all dream of.”
He also struck a conciliatory tone on minority rights, an issue that has shadowed the BNP and its former ally Jamaat-e-Islami for years amid allegations of hostility toward Hindus and other non-Muslim communities in the Muslim-majority nation. Hasina, in contrast, was widely regarded as more secular.
“The time has come for all of us to build the country together. This country belongs to people of the hills and the plains, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians. We want to build a safe Bangladesh, where every woman, man, and child can leave home and return safely,” the BNP leader said.
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
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