Dhaka, Bangladesh – February 13, 2026 — In Bangladesh’s first general election since the dramatic Gen Z-led uprising that forced longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee the country in August 2024, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, has won a resounding landslide victory, securing a commanding majority in the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament).
Preliminary results released by the Election Commission late Thursday show the BNP winning approximately 248 of the 300 contested seats, with its allied candidates and smaller partners taking an additional 20–25 seats. The Awami League—Hasina’s former ruling party—has been reduced to fewer than 30 seats, its worst performance in decades. Independent candidates and smaller parties shared the remainder.
Tarique Rahman, the acting chairman of the BNP and son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is widely expected to become the next Prime Minister once parliament convenes and the new government is formed. Rahman, who has lived in exile in London for much of the past 17 years due to corruption charges he claims were politically motivated, returned to Bangladesh in late 2024 after Hasina’s ouster and has led the party’s resurgence ever since.
Speaking to supporters from the BNP headquarters in Naya Paltan, Dhaka, shortly after the results began trending decisively in his party’s favour, Rahman declared:
“This is not a victory for any one party. This is the victory of the people of Bangladesh—especially the brave students and young generation who stood up and said enough is enough. We will honour their sacrifice by building a Bangladesh where democracy, justice, rule of law, and economic opportunity are guaranteed for every citizen.”
The election marks a dramatic turning point for Bangladesh after months of interim governance under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus following Hasina’s departure. The uprising, initially sparked by quota reform protests in July 2024, rapidly escalated into a nationwide anti-government movement led largely by university students and Gen Z activists. At least 1,400 people were killed and thousands injured in the crackdown that preceded Hasina’s resignation and flight to India.
Turnout in Thursday’s election was reported at 68–72%—high by recent Bangladeshi standards—despite scattered reports of violence, intimidation, and technical glitches in some polling stations. Domestic and international observers, including teams from the Commonwealth, European Union, and local civil society groups, described the vote as “largely peaceful and credible” overall, though they noted concerns about pre-election restrictions on opposition rallies, media censorship, and the continued exile of Sheikh Hasina.
The BNP’s landslide has been attributed to several factors:
Widespread public anger at the Awami League following years of allegations of authoritarianism, enforced disappearances, and economic mismanagement
Strong youth support for change after the 2024 uprising
Tarique Rahman’s image as a fresh face untainted by the immediate past
Effective grassroots mobilisation and alliances with smaller parties and student leaders
The scale of the victory has raised questions about the future role of the Awami League, which dominated Bangladeshi politics for 15 consecutive years until 2024. Senior Awami League figures have alleged widespread rigging and voter intimidation, claims the Election Commission and BNP have rejected.
International reaction has been swift. The United States, United Kingdom, India, and the European Union have issued statements congratulating the people of Bangladesh on the conduct of the election and calling for an inclusive, transparent transition of power. China, a major economic partner, has remained notably silent so far.
Tarique Rahman is expected to be sworn in as Prime Minister within the next week once parliament convenes and formalities are completed. His administration will face immediate challenges, including:
Rebuilding public trust in institutions
Addressing economic pressures (inflation, energy shortages, youth unemployment)
Prosecuting those responsible for violence during the 2024 uprising
Reforming the police, judiciary, and election commission
Managing relations with India and China
Many young activists who led the uprising have expressed cautious optimism about the BNP victory, though some warn that true reform will depend on whether the new government keeps its promises of accountability, inclusivity, and non-retribution.
As Bangladesh enters a new political chapter, the landslide victory of Tarique Rahman and the BNP signals a decisive rejection of the Hasina era and a strong mandate for change—driven above all by the generation that risked everything to bring it about.
