Bangladesh Nationalist Party wins landslide, returns to power after 20 years

DHAKA, Bangladesh — The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a landslide victory in the country’s first general election since a mass uprising toppled the government of Sheikh Hasina, officials announced Sunday.

The BNP coalition won 212 seats, according to the election commission, marking the party’s return to power after two decades. A rival coalition led by the Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami followed with 77 seats.

Observers described the vote as the first free and fair election in Bangladesh in nearly 20 years. Nationwide voter turnout reached 59.4%, a significant increase over previous polls.

Tarique Rahman, the leader of the BNP, is expected to serve as the country’s next prime minister. Rahman returned to Bangladesh in December after living in exile for 17 years.

The United States, India, and Pakistan issued statements congratulating the BNP on its victory.

While Jamaat-e-Islami conceded defeat, the party alleged that some irregularities occurred during the vote-counting process.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) decisive electoral victory signals a transformative pivot for the nation’s political trajectory, marking the end of the post-uprising transition and the beginning of a precarious new era. Following the mass mobilization that dismantled the Sheikh Hasina administration, this election serves as a critical litmus test for Dhaka’s ability to convert street-level revolutionary momentum into durable institutional reform.

The high voter turnout underscores a profound public mandate for systemic change. However, the incoming administration, led by Tarique Rahman, inherits a landscape of immense expectation. The government is under immediate pressure to deliver on structural anti-corruption measures and institutional overhauls while addressing the economic grievances of the youth—the primary demographic driver of the recent uprising.

The path ahead is complicated by a newly emboldened opposition. Jamaat-e-Islami’s historic parliamentary gains have established a significant legislative counterweight, potentially challenging the BNP’s policy agenda. Furthermore, early allegations of irregularities during the ballot count could serve as a flashpoint for future political friction, threatening to undermine the legitimacy of the nascent government.

On the geopolitical front, the rapid diplomatic response from regional powers, most notably India, indicates a strategic recalibration. New Delhi’s prompt outreach to the new leadership is viewed as a pragmatic move to safeguard regional stability and maintain its sphere of influence in Dhaka. For the Rahman administration, balancing these domestic reformist demands with complex regional realpolitik will define the success of this political transition.