Bangladesh Elections Result Updates: BNP crosses majority mark, set to form government as counting continues

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party crossed the halfway mark to win the parliamentary election on Friday, a local TV station showed, as ballots were counted in a pivotal vote that is expected to restore political stability in the troubled South Asian country.

BNP had won 151 seats in the 300-member parliament, Ekattor TV showed, securing a simple majority.

Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin on Thursday praised Bangladesh’s 13th national election, describing it as one of the country’s most smoothly conducted polls.

“If you judge by the process, it can be considered a very good election. I am feeling positive about it,” Nasir Uddin said. He added that the commission had aimed to ensure a festive atmosphere while holding a neutral and credible vote, a goal he believes was successfully met. “Everyone is recognising this effort,” he said.

The National Citizen Party (NCP) aligned with the Jamaat-led coalition has announced early victories in six constituencies, highlighting the rise of several young leaders who emerged during the 2024 anti-Hasina student protests.

Among those claiming wins are party chief Nahid Islam, 27, from Dhaka-11; Hasnat Abdullah, 27, representing Cumilla-4 in the east; Akhter Hossen, 28, from Rangpur-4 in the north; and Hannan Masud, 26, in Noakhali-6 in the southeast. The remaining two constituencies include Atiqur Rahman Mujahid in Kurigram-2 and Abdullah Al Amin in Narayanganj-4 near Dhaka.

The party’s spokesperson and election steering committee head, Asif Mahmud shared the updates on his verified Facebook page, listing the winners under the NCP’s “waterlily bud” symbol. He added: “The number will increase further, Inshallah.”

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate Mustafa Kamal Pasha has taken the lead in the Chittagong-3 (Sandwip) constituency, according to unofficial tallies. Pasha secured 72,353 votes under the BNP’s paddy sheaf symbol while his closest rival Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Muhammad Ala Uddin received 37,157 votes, contesting under the scales symbol.

Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shafiqur Rahman said Thursday that his party would pursue a constructive political path, even if it falls short in the ongoing parliamentary elections.

Speaking to reporters, Rahman stressed that Jamaat would not resort to obstructionist politics merely for the sake of opposition. “We will focus on positive engagement and meaningful contributions, rather than opposing for opposition’s sake,” he said, amid initial results showing the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leading in multiple constituencies.

The statement comes as BNP, led by Tarique Rahman, appears to have taken an early advantage in preliminary counts, putting Jamaat-e-Islami in a secondary position. Rahman’s remarks signal a commitment to responsible political conduct, regardless of the election outcome, and aim to reassure the public and international observers of the party’s democratic intentions.

Jamaat-e-Islami has historically been a key player in Bangladesh’s politics, and its approach in this election could influence both coalition dynamics and governance in the country’s next parliament.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) expressed confidence on Thursday night that it would secure more than two-thirds of parliamentary seats, reflecting strong public support.

“Based on the vote counts received so far and detailed constituency-level information, we are very hopeful about this victory,” Mahdi Amin, spokesperson for the BNP Central Election Steering Committee was quoted as saying by Dhaka Tribune.

At a press conference held at the party’s Dhaka Gulshan election office, Mahdi also confirmed that BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has unofficially won in both the Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 constituencies.

2008:
Sheikh Hasina won a commanding majority in an election that restored democratic governance after two years of emergency rule. Independent observers described the vote as fair, though opposition leader and former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia claimed widespread fraud.

2014:
Hasina’s party again secured victory in an election largely boycotted by the main opposition. The polls were marred by violent unrest, and international observers largely stayed away. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) labelled the vote a farce.

2018:
Hasina dismissed opposition allegations of vote rigging, highlighting strong voter participation in an election her ruling alliance won by a landslide. While the government oversaw rapid economic growth, critics accused it of human rights violations and suppressing dissent, allegations denied by the administration.

2024:
Hasina claimed a fourth consecutive term in an election boycotted by the main opposition, resulting in low voter turnout. The U.S. State Department questioned the fairness of the vote and expressed concern over reported irregularities and election-related violence. The U.K. Foreign Office also condemned what it described as acts of intimidation and violence.

The Jamaat-e-Islami party has faced allegations of attempting to influence voters through a mix of cash incentives and religious messaging, reportedly promising both money and “salvation from grave punishment” in return for electoral support.

According to reports, pamphlets circulated by the Jamaat coalition pledged 15,000 taka (around $125) to voters who backed the party and its leader Shafiqur Rahman. The leaflets also reportedly instructed voters to photograph their stamped ballots as proof.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Tarique Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, has won the Bogra-6 constituency, according to a post on the party’s official Facebook page.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) appeared to have gained an advantage over its former ally, Jamaat-e-Islami, in Thursday’s general elections to choose a new government to replace the interim administration formed after the Awami League regime collapsed in August 2024.

According to a PTI report, early results showed BNP candidates leading in more than 175 seats, while Jamaat nominees were ahead in 30 seats. Counting remains under way.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Tarique Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, has won the Bogra-6 constituency, according to a post on the party’s official Facebook page.

Supporters of the Tarique Rahman-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) gathered in celebration as early trends showed the party ahead in 50 seats, while Jamaat was leading in 18, Reuters reported citing local television channels.

The Jatiya Sangsad has 300 seats, with 151 needed for a simple majority. Vote counting is still ongoing.

Tarique Rahman-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is ahead in 50 seats, while Jamaat is leading in 18, Reuters reported citing local television channels.

Bangladesh’s parliament, the Jatiya Sangsad, has 300 seats, with 151 required for a simple majority. Counting remains under way.

Bangladeshi writer and activist Taslima Nasreen on Thursday warned that democracy would be at risk if Jamaat were to assume power.

In a post on X, she wrote, “Democracy will cease to exist if Jamaat comes to power.”

The Bangladesh Election Commission’s official results website remained inaccessible as vote counting continued across the country, with no constituency winners formally declared so far.

At the EC Secretariat in Agargaon, Dhaka, officials were announcing polling station-level figures through a live broadcast as data arrived from returning officers via the results management system.

In the absence of an accessible official portal, local television channels, news outlets and political parties have been sharing unofficial tallies based on figures emerging from returning officers’ control rooms.

The formal process of declaring results involves several steps. After counting at each polling station, results are documented on paper, signed by presiding officials and candidate agents, and displayed publicly.

These documents are then transported under security to the constituency returning officer, usually the district deputy commissioner. The officer compiles returns from all centres, includes eligible postal ballots, and uploads consolidated totals to the EC system.

The Election Commission headquarters subsequently collates the nationwide figures and issues official updates.

BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed is ahead by a wide margin in Cox’s Bazar-1 (Chakaria–Pekua) in the 13th National Parliamentary Election.

Preliminary results from 74 of the 177 polling centres show Salahuddin, contesting on the party’s ‘paddy sheaf’ symbol, securing 121,119 votes so far. Counting continues in the remaining centres.

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, contesting with the party’s ‘Sheaf of Paddy’ symbol, is ahead in preliminary counting with 39,101 votes from 35 polling centres.

His nearest challenger, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate contesting on the ‘Dari Palla’ (Scale) symbol, has secured 25,976 votes so far. Khadimul Islam of Islami Andolan Bangladesh has received 705 votes.

The constituency comprises a total of 185 polling centres, with counting still under way.

Early results from 31 of 143 centres in Chattogram-11 (Bandar–Patenga) show BNP candidate Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury in the lead with 21,881 votes.

His closest rival, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Mohammad Shafiul Alam, has so far secured 15,033 votes. Counting is still under way in the remaining centres.

Among millions of young voters taking part in Bangladesh’s election was 21-year-old Shithi Goswami, a student at Dhaka City College, who voted for the first time.

“I hope, after everything we went through over the last few years, now is the time for something positive,” she told the AFP news agency.

Bangladesh’s deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday called the general elections being held by the interim government “a well-planned farce” and demanded holding of “free, fair and inclusive elections under a neutral caretaker government”.

As Bangladesh voted in its 13th parliamentary elections, Sajeeb Wazed, son of exiled former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, indicated a possible political outreach to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), describing it as the country’s “major party”.

In an interview with CNN-News18, Wazed said, “BNP is the major party in Bangladesh. We are going to reach out to them soon.”

His remarks suggest the possibility of renewed political engagement following the polls.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has won the Dhaka-17 constituency, according to unofficial results cited by Shairul Kabir Khan, a member of the party’s media cell.

Earlier on Thursday morning, Rahman cast his vote in the 13th national parliamentary election at the Gulshan Model High School and College polling centre in the capital.

He arrived at the centre around 9:30 am to vote. His wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, and their daughter, Zaima Rahman, accompanied him.

Sajeeb Wazed, son of former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina has said the upcoming elections have turned into an “open field” for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), arguing that the absence of key opponents has reshaped the political contest.

In an interview with CNN-News18, Wazed claimed that his mother’s Awami League and other progressive forces were barred from contesting, tilting the electoral landscape. “It’s an open field for BNP in the elections because there is no real opposition and we are barred from fighting the elections,” he said.

Wazed maintained that the exclusion of established political players has altered voter choices. According to him, the space left vacant has inadvertently improved the prospects of Jamaat-e-Islami, though he insisted the party has limited grassroots backing. “Jamaat has very little support in Bangladesh,” he said, adding that its chances of winning more seats stem from the absence of other progressive parties rather than widespread popularity.

He also downplayed the influence of student-led political formations that emerged during the protests which led to Sheikh Hasina’s ouster. “It’s not easy for the student party to leave a footprint in this election. They have no popularity,” Wazed stated.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has secured 24 seats so far, while Jamaat has won 12, according to the latest available figures.

Vote counting remains under way.

Md Asaduzzaman, former attorney general of Bangladesh, has secured a win in the preliminary results of the 13th National Parliamentary Election as the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidate from the Jhenaidah-1 (Shailkupa) constituency, the Dhaka Tribune reported.

Asaduzzaman stepped down as the country’s 17th attorney general to contest the election. Before serving as Bangladesh’s top legal officer, he was Human Rights Secretary of the BNP Central Executive Committee and an adviser to late party chairperson Begum Khaleda Zia.

Voting in Jhenaidah-1 concluded on Thursday afternoon, with reports of strong participation by residents. Election officials are expected to declare the official results in the coming days.

At least four people have been jailed for allegedly manipulating ballots in three districts, The Daily Star reported.

Among those arrested was an office bearer of the Jatiya Subo Shakti. He was reportedly detained by BNP supporters and later handed over to the authorities.

The Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance described the voting as “excellent” and expressed confidence that it would secure a landslide victory, The Daily Star reported.

The alliance said it expected to win the highest number of seats, while acknowledging reports of some isolated incidents of violence and irregularities during polling.

Former prime minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday thanked Bangladeshi citizens for what she described as rejecting a “sham election staged by the killer-fascist Yunus, who seized power illegally and unconstitutionally”.

In her statement, Hasina alleged that the voting process had been flawed from the start. She claimed some polling centres were taken over, that gunfire was reported in certain areas, and that money was used to influence voters. She also accused authorities of pre-stamping ballot papers and pressuring polling agents to sign result sheets.

Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus, however, struck a very different tone. Speaking after voting in Dhaka, he said the election — the first since the deadly 2024 uprising, marked the end of a “nightmare” and the beginning of a new chapter for the country.

Despite receiving an official invitation from Dhaka to monitor the proceedings, India opted not to send official observers to avoid any perception of interference.
Responding to queries during the weekly media briefing on Thursday, Ministry of External Affairs Official Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “We did receive an invitation for sending Observers, we have not sent our Observers to Bangladesh to observe the elections.”
By staying away from the polling stations, New Delhi ensured that the “credibility” of the election remains a matter for the Bangladeshi people and the international community to judge, rather than being “validated” by an Indian presence.
India awaits the election outcome to assess the mandate and discuss issues with Bangladesh. Jaiswal emphasised India’s stance on free, fair, inclusive, and credible elections in Bangladesh.
“We should wait for the outcome of the elections to see as to what sort of mandate has come out and thereafter we will look at issues that are there. On the election per se, you know what our position has been. We stand for a free, fair, inclusive and credible elections in Bangladesh,” he said.

ANI

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday demanded “cancellation of this voterless, illegal, and unconstitutional election” while lauding voters for “boycotting and rejecting this election without the Awami League”. The voter turnout was recorded below 50% as of 2pm, according to the Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed.

Leading prime ministerial hopeful Tarique Rahman, 60, said he was “confident” his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) — which was crushed during the 15 years of ousted premier Sheikh Hasina’s autocratic rule — can regain power in the South Asian nation of 170 million people.

However, he faces a stiff challenge from a coalition led by the Muslim-majority country’s largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami.