India is watching the election closely because of its potential impact on New Delhi's ties with Dhaka
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is set to make a historic comeback in Dhaka, with the party on course for a landslide win in the first elections held since a deadly 2024 uprising, with leader Tarique Rahman poised to become prime minister.
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At 8:00 am (7:30 am IST), Bangladeshi media projected that the BNP had pushed well past the 150-seat threshold to secure a clear majority in parliament -- predicting they would win more than two-thirds of seats. The Jamuna television channel reported that the BNP had secured 212 seats.
Tarique Rahman's party has claimed the victory, saying, "BNP is set to form the government after winning the majority of seats."
The Islamist-led coalition headed by Jamaat-e-Islami had won 70 seats, the broadcaster projected, a huge leap from its past results but far short of the outright win it had campaigned for. Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman, 67, who mounted a disciplined grassroots campaign on a platform of justice and ending corruption, has conceded defeat, stating that his party would not engage in obstructive "politics of opposition". He said, "We will do positive politics."
The Election Commission has not released final results, suggesting it will have those ready by late Friday morning, for a total of 299 constituencies of the 300 in which voting took place. A further 50 seats in parliament reserved for women will be named from party lists. Without waiting for the final result, the United States offered its congratulations to Rahman and the BNP for an "historic victory," its embassy in Dhaka said.
Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, will step down once the new government takes power. The 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner has led Bangladesh since Hasina's rule ended with her ouster in August 2024. His administration barred her Awami League party from contesting the polls.
The elections were the first without two former prime ministers—Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina, who was deposed after a mass student-led uprising in August 2024 and has been in India since then, and former Bangladesh Nationalist Party head Khaleda Zia, who died in December last year—who have dominated politics in the country for decades.
Zia's son Tarique Rahman, 60, returned to the country from exile after nearly 17 years following his mother's death and quickly emerged as a frontrunner for the prime minister's post in the absence of the Awami League, which could not contest because its registration was suspended.
Electors also voted in a referendum on the July National Charter, which contains major reform proposals agreed to by the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government and several political parties. Among the points in the charter are limiting prime ministers to two terms (10 years), establishing an upper house of parliament, and restoring the caretaker system – having a caretaker government take charge for 90 days before an election to ensure polls are free and fair.
Sheikh Hasina, however, termed the elections "deceptive" and called for them to be cancelled, claiming the turnout was low and polling stations were "completely empty of voters". "In this situation, we demand the cancellation of this voterless, illegal, and unconstitutional election; the resignation of Yunus", she said in a statement.
India is watching the election closely because of its potential impact on New Delhi's ties with Dhaka, and Bangladesh's perceived closeness with Pakistan and China after Hasina's ouster. India has also condemned an uptick in attacks on minorities, including the killing of Hindus, in Bangladesh. Asked about the elections, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "The election is going on in Bangladesh. We should wait for the outcome to see what sort of mandate has come...and thereafter, we will look at issues that are there."
