Dhaka (Reuters)
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a sweeping victory in Friday’s parliamentary election, in line with local tv reports, gaining a decisive mandate in what many view as a important step in the direction of restoring political balance in the South Asian nation.
Thursday’s vote marked Bangladesh’s first countrywide election since the 2024 children-led uprising that compelled lengthy-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power. The final results were widely regarded as important for stabilizing the Muslim-majority us of a of one hundred seventy five million humans after months of unrest disrupted each day life and impacted key industries, together with the garment quarter — the spine of the world’s second-largest clothing exporter.
It turned into also the primary country wide election within the location following a wave of children-driven political actions. Neighboring Nepal is scheduled to keep its very own election next month.
BNP Claims Strong Majority
Pre-election surveys had indicated an advantage for the BNP, and the results matched those expectations. The BNP-led alliance won 209 seats, securing a -thirds majority inside the 300-member Jatiya Sangsad (House of the Nation), Jamuna TV reported.
After confirming its majority for the duration of the in a single day vote be counted, the BNP expressed gratitude to electorate and known as for prayers for the u . S . A .’s properly-being. In a assertion, the celebration urged supporters to avoid victory rallies or processions and as a substitute offer prayers at mosques, temples, church buildings, and pagodas national.
The BNP is led by using Tarique Rahman, 60, broadly seen because the birthday party’s high ministerial candidate. He is the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and previous President Ziaur Rahman. The birthday celebration campaigned on guarantees that included financial help for low-income families, limiting any person to ten years as high minister, encouraging foreign funding to strengthen the financial system, and implementing stricter anti-corruption measures.
Opposition Response
Shafiqur Rahman, chief of the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami — the BNP’s primary rival — conceded defeat after his alliance secured 68 seats. He said that Jamaat would pursue “advantageous politics” rather than opposing the government for its very own sake.
The National Citizen Party (NCP), fashioned by means of children activists who played a key function in Hasina’s elimination and allied with Jamaat, received 5 of the 30 seats it contested.
Although the BNP accomplished a landslide win, the election changed into extensively visible as Bangladesh’s most aggressive in years. Hasina’s Awami League, which ruled for over 15 years before her ousting, become barred from taking part.
Voter turnout regarded to exceed the forty two% recorded inside the 2024 election, with neighborhood media estimating participation above 60%. More than 2,000 applicants, along with numerous independents, competed for seats, with as a minimum 50 political parties collaborating — a country wide file. Voting in one constituency become postponed following a candidate’s loss of life.
Referendum and Reaction
Alongside the election, electorate additionally participated in a referendum on constitutional reforms. Proposed adjustments included organising a impartial intervening time authorities during election durations, growing a bicameral parliament, growing girls’s illustration, strengthening judicial independence, and imposing a two-time period restrict for the top minister.
While reliable consequences have been pending, The Daily Star said that 73% of about 296,000 referendum voters supported the reforms.
From self-imposed exile in India, Sheikh Hasina criticized the election, calling it a “carefully deliberate farce.” She argued that the vote lacked legitimacy due to the exclusion of her Awami League birthday party and alleged constrained voter participation. Hasina demanded the cancellation of the effects and referred to as for a fresh, inclusive election underneath a impartial caretaker government.
Critics of Hasina, but, contend that elections held in the course of her tenure had been often marked by using boycotts and allegations of intimidation.
