Recently, elections were held in Bangladesh, and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won a landslide victory. The vote was highly significant, coming after the July 2024 uprising that ended nearly 15 years of uninterrupted rule by Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League. The polls tested whether protest-driven movements, especially among young voters, could convert street momentum into stable governance. BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami were the main contenders, with over 2,000 candidates, including many independents, and at least 50 parties on the ballot. Observers noted the outcome would affect domestic stability and Bangladesh’s relations with major powers like India and China.

BNP’s comeback and the new political landscape

Importantly, BNP largely contested the elections as the biggest single force, fielding candidates in 298 out of 300 constituencies, while Jamaat-e-Islami fought the polls through an alliance structure, contesting around 224 seats as part of an 11-party bloc. The National Citizen Party (NCP), aligned with Jamaat, contested roughly 30 seats within that broader alliance arrangement. This highlights that the contest was not simply between two standalone parties but involved competing alliance frameworks and seat-sharing dynamics.

According to election results reported by major broadcasters and international media, BNP and its allies have secured a decisive parliamentary majority. Official results indicate that BNP-led forces have won a commanding share of the constituency seats, while the rival Jamaat-e-Islami-aligned bloc has emerged as the principal opposition, with smaller parties and independents filling the remainder. Reuters and Al Jazeera have described it as a clear two-thirds majority for BNP. The Bangladesh Election Commission has now published an official gazette notification declaring 297 MPs elected, providing formal confirmation of the results. Following this decisive victory, BNP has begun the formal process of government formation, with swearing-in preparations underway. The overall verdict is unmistakable: BNP is set to lead the next government with a commanding majority.

BNP, led by Tarique Rahman, has achieved a dramatic comeback. Rahman has won from both constituencies he contested — Dhaka‑17 and Bogura‑6 — marking a decisive personal victory. The party confirmed its victory in a post on X, saying: “The Bangladesh Nationalist Party is going to form the government by winning the majority of seats.”

Awami League was barred from participating in these elections, making this the first major national vote after the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina’s government in the July 2024 uprising. Hasina fled to neighboring India in August 2024. Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus, now 85, held office as interim head after Hasina’s departure.

Bangladesh has a unicameral legislature, the Jatiyo Shangsad (National Parliament), with 350 seats in total. Of these, 300 seats are contested directly in single-member constituencies, while an additional 50 seats are reserved for women and allocated proportionally to parties based on their election performance. According to the Election Commission, nationwide voter turnout was recorded at around 60–61 percent.

Importantly, postal voting was facilitated for the first time, benefitting about 15 million overseas workers whose remittances form a vital part of the Bangladeshi economy.

These elections also included a national referendum. Voters cast two votes — one for the parliamentary election with a white ballot, and another for the National Referendum with pink ballots to decide whether the “July National Charter” should be adopted. The Charter lays out reforms for democracy, governance, and social justice, aiming to prevent the recurrence of authoritarian rule. According to the Bangladesh Election Commission, the referendum was approved by a clear majority, with voters endorsing the adoption of the “July National Charter”.

A clear mandate against extremism and chaos

This election came after months of instability following the July uprising. Economic development has been low, inflation has been high, and the garment industry — the world’s second-largest exporter and a backbone of women’s employment — has suffered significantly. Ordinary people have been suffering deeply. Promises made during the so-called revolution were not fulfilled. Instead, there was mob rule, attacks on minorities, and deterioration of law and order. Yunus acted more like a dictator imposing decisions, even signing controversial deals under non-disclosure agreements just days before the elections.

This verdict is also a clear message to the so-called Gen-Z political forces and immature leadership that the people do not want emotional vigilantism without vision. In a significant development, NCP leader Sarjis Alam — one of the prominent faces of the Bangladesh student movement — has lost from Panchagarh-1. He was defeated by the BNP candidate by a notable margin, marking a major upset and sending a strong message that Bangladesh wants stability, not chaos.

At the same time, Jamaat-e-Islami has suffered setbacks. Its leader conceded defeat and vowed that his party would not engage in opposition politics for the sake of disruption, saying: “We will do positive politics.” In another major blow, Jamaat’s second-in-command and Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar has also lost his seat, a highly symbolic defeat for the party’s senior leadership. This underlines the limited public appetite for Jamaat’s ideological agenda at this crucial moment.

The result is also good news for women. Women form a very important labour force in Bangladesh, especially in the garment industry, which is one of the largest employers in the country. Had Jamaat come to power, women would have got marginalized given Jamaat’s ideological orientation and conservative outlook. Their coming to power would have restricted women’s opportunities in public life and in the labor market. Millions of working-class women depend on these industries for their livelihood, to survive, and to raise their living standards. Therefore, BNP’s victory is also a victory for women, as it ensures that their participation in the economy and society remains protected. In this sense, this electoral verdict has also safeguarded the hopes and aspirations of women in Bangladesh.

Importantly, this electoral verdict is also a clear message that the people of Bangladesh value their cultural identity and historical national character, and they do not want its dilution by replacing it with an exclusively religious political identity. Bangladesh’s society has always been shaped by a unique blend of Bengali culture, language, and traditions alongside faith, and voters have shown that they want politics rooted in this broader national identity rather than ideological extremism. In this sense, the rejection of Jamaat’s rise is also a reaffirmation that Bangladesh’s identity remains intact and that the people will not accept forces that seek to narrow it into a purely religious framework.

A clear electoral outcome was crucial for stability in the Muslim-majority nation of 175 million, especially after months of disruption that affected everyday life and major industries.

This result is also positive for India. Had Jamaat-e-Islami won, given the party’s ideological leanings and historical closeness with Pakistan, it could have created challenges for New Delhi’s diplomatic engagement. BNP’s victory, by contrast, offers a more pragmatic opening for constructive bilateral relations.

Tarique Rahman’s vision for domestic growth and foreign policy balance

Tarique Rahman’s win presents an opportunity to rebuild ties with India. India has been forthcoming; even when relations were strained, its External Affairs Minister visited Dhaka to extend condolences upon the death of Rahman’s mother, demonstrating pragmatism and signaling India’s willingness to engage.

After Rahman’s victory, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first leaders to congratulate him, indicating India’s readiness to work with the new government. In his message, Modi said the victory “reflects the trust and confidence of the people of Bangladesh in Rahman’s leadership,” and reaffirmed that “India will continue to stand in support of a democratic, progressive, and inclusive Bangladesh,” adding that he looked forward to working closely with the new leadership to strengthen bilateral relations and advance shared development goals between the two nations.

Moreover, Tarique Rahman has been pragmatic during his election campaign. Unlike in the past, he has not indulged in anti-India rhetoric. In fact, during the campaign, he repeatedly stressed that Bangladesh’s foreign policy would be guided by national interest and balance. He used the slogan “Not Dilli, not Pindi — Bangladesh First,” underlining that Dhaka’s relations with neighbours, including India, must be based on equality, mutual respect, and Bangladesh’s own priorities rather than dependency on any external power. This reflects a more mature and realistic approach, suggesting that engagement with India will be pursued in a pragmatic and unneighborly manner.

He has stated clearly that Bangladesh will pursue good relations with all countries. His campaign has focused on development, including infrastructure, healthcare improvement, IT education institutions, embankments, and youth employment. He has promised a transformed economy valued at $1 trillion by 2034 and jobs for 10 million in five years. BNP’s manifesto also includes financial aid for poor families, limiting the prime minister’s tenure to 10 years, boosting foreign investment, and anti-corruption measures.

Overall, this election is a win for the people of Bangladesh. It sends multiple messages: a rejection of vigilantism, a rejection of instability, a reaffirmation of Bangladesh’s identity and social fabric, and a renewed hope for stability after months of unrest.

Please follow Blitz on Google News Channel

© Blitz