Dhaka’s political landscape shifted dramatically as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) surged ahead in the parliamentary elections held on Thursday, February 12. With vote counting still underway, early trends point to a resounding victory for BNP and its alliances, securing over 210 seats in the 13th parliament. This landslide paves the way for a new government led by BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, marking a potential return to male leadership after nearly 35 years.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T. Christensen wasted no time in extending congratulations. In a post on X, he hailed the successful elections and BNP’s historic triumph. ‘Congratulations to the people of Bangladesh for a successful election and to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Tarique Rahman for your historic victory,’ he wrote. ‘The United States stands ready to work with you to achieve our shared goals of prosperity and security for both countries.’
Tarique Rahman, son of Bangladesh’s founding BNP leader General Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, clinched victories in two key constituencies. In Dhaka-17, he garnered 72,699 votes, defeating Jamaat-e-Islami’s S.M. Khaliduzzaman who received 68,300. From Bogra-6, Rahman secured 216,284 votes against Jamaat candidate Abidur Rahman Sohel’s 97,626.
Before casting his vote, Rahman exuded confidence, asserting a 100% certainty of BNP’s success. Post-victory, he instructed party leaders to hold special prayers after Friday’s Juma namaz across the nation, while urging restraint from victory rallies to maintain peace.
Khaleda Zia’s passing last December thrust Rahman into the spotlight, positioning him to lead the nation amid high expectations. Local media like The Daily Star and Prothom Alo reported these developments, underscoring BNP’s dominance. As the final results trickle in, Bangladesh braces for a new era under BNP stewardship, with international allies like the US signaling strong support for stability and growth.