On 12 February, the country held parliamentary elections. All 300 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad were contested. The results show that the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has won and is returning to office for the first time in 16 years. It is 20 years since the party last won an election. The result was widely forecast. The BNP easily secured more than the 151 seats required to form a majority.
Tarique Rahman is the Chairman of the BNP and the son of the late Khaleda Zia, who was Prime Minister and Chairwoman of the BNP for decades. Khaleda Zia died in 2025, days after her son returned to the country following 18 years of self-imposed exile in London.
The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is the runner-up with about 42 seats. Its Amir, Shafiqur Rahman, has said that it accepts the people’s verdict and will sit in opposition as a responsible party. Jamaat-e-Islami is accused of attempting to turn Bangladesh into something resembling a Taliban-style state and of converting schools into madrassas, which it denies and which many consider far from the truth.
The party does, however, hold conservative views regarding women in leadership positions. Nonetheless, it allied itself with the BNP when it was led by Khaleda Zia.
The party advocates gender segregation and the promotion of traditional family values, which may include reducing the legal age of matrimony. Jamaat argues that anti-alcohol laws are enforced too laxly. It is relatively puritanical, but even it does not propose outlawing cricket — a sport that is far too popular and one of the few arenas in which Bangladesh occasionally defeats other subcontinental nations.
During the Bangladesh Liberation War (also known as the Third Indo-Pak War), some Bangladeshis sided with Pakistan, wishing the country to remain East Pakistan. They were mostly religious fundamentalists who believed independence would divide Muslims. For them, Islamic unity trumped national identity. They were known as ‘Razakars’, meaning ‘volunteers’ in Urdu. After independence, the term became a slur.
The National Citizens' Party appears to have won a handful of seats.
It is notable that there is no socialist party represented. In a country marked by widespread poverty and stark inequality, it is surprising that no party proposes a clearly anti-capitalist alternative.
Turnout was about 58%, which is surprisingly low. At least it reduces the likelihood of ballot stuffing.
Thus far, the election appears remarkably clean, with few accusations of fraud or intimidation.
The Awami League of Sheikh Hasina has been outlawed. This was the major wild-card factor in the election, as former Awami League voters — roughly 40% of the electorate — were politically homeless. Whoever secured their support would likely win. However, many seem to have abstained, perhaps explaining the low turnout.
For decades, Bangladeshi politics was a duopoly between the BNP and the Awami League, both headed by women. In a country often criticised for its treatment of women, it is notable that females have led the government for most of the past 40 years.
As the Awami League is now defunct, Jamaat-e-Islami becomes the principal opposition party. On one issue, Jamaat and the BNP agree: both are critical of India. They dislike Narendra Modi’s cordial relationship with Sheikh Hasina and resent India’s decision to shelter her. Bangladesh is already tilting towards China in its foreign policy.
This is the first election since the July Revolution of 2025, which drove Sheikh Hasina from office. She was granted asylum in India in August 2024. Bangladesh requested her extradition, but New Delhi declined. She has since been tried in absentia and sentenced to death.
Tarique Rahman stood in two constituencies, which is lawful. He was elected in both but must choose one, necessitating a by-election in the other.
Some critics argue that Rahman leads the BNP primarily because of dynastic inheritance: his mother was Prime Minister and his father, Ziaur Rahman, was President. There are rumours that he acquired British citizenship while residing in the United Kingdom, though he denies seeking it.
Bangladesh does not permit dual citizens to hold public office. Records indicate that a Tarique Rahman was naturalised in the UK, though it remains unclear whether this refers to the same individual.
He is another South Asian dynast. Sheikh Hasina herself is a dynast, being the daughter of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s founder. Pakistan has the Bhutto family, and India the Nehru–Gandhi family.
Muhammad Yunus is currently Chief Adviser to the Government, as the office of the Prime Minister has remained in abeyance since Hasina left office. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for founding Grameen Bank (“Village Bank”), a microcredit scheme that transformed millions of lives, reduced extreme poverty, and freed many from debt bondage.
Yunus is personally unambitious and motivated by disinterested public service. In a country long troubled by partisanship and corruption, he has been a welcome contrast and a moral corrective to power-hungry demagogues.
Mohammad Shahabuddin is President. Formerly of the Awami League, he has remained in office despite the party’s ban. Constitutionally, he must appoint the leader of the largest party as Prime Minister. He is therefore likely to appoint Tarique Rahman on Friday.