Dhaka: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, has declared a decisive victory in Bangladesh's 13th national parliamentary elections, marking the first vote since the mass movement that led to the ouster of long-time leader Sheikh Hasina in 2024.
According to Qatar News Agency, preliminary results and party projections indicate that the BNP secured a clear parliamentary majority, positioning it to form the next government. Unofficial tallies and media reports suggest that the BNP and its allies have won well above the 151 seats required for a majority in the 300-member Jatiya Sangsad, with estimates suggesting the party captured more than 200 seats in the legislature.
Final official results have yet to be released by the Election Commission; however, local broadcasters reported that the BNP has surpassed the threshold needed to govern independently. Tarique Rahman, the 60-year-old party chairman and prime ministerial candidate, welcomed the outcome and expressed confidence in the party's mandate.
A BNP spokesperson described the victory as an "overwhelming public mandate" and highlighted strong voter turnout across the country, reflecting widespread public engagement in the electoral process.