BNP on course for sweeping two-thirds majority

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is poised for a landslide return to power, as unofficial results from the country’s 13th parliamentary election held on Thursday indicated a decisive two-thirds majority, following a vote widely described as the most peaceful and festive in decades.

The election, held amid tight security and enhanced technological monitoring, marked a significant moment for voters who turned out in a largely peaceful atmosphere to reclaim their voting rights after years of disputed and controversial polls. 

While isolated incidents and allegations of irregularities were reported, the day was widely seen as a break from the turmoil that marred the previous three national elections. Overall voter turnout stood at an unofficial 61%, according to Election Commission sources. 

As of 3.50am today, BNP candidates had won at least 204 constituencies, according to unofficial tallies.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, formerly an alliance partner of the BNP, emerged as the second-largest force, securing victories in around 64 constituencies nationwide. 

Together, the results placed the BNP-led bloc firmly on course for an overwhelming parliamentary majority.

The scale of the BNP’s success underscored a dramatic political shift, reflecting both voter mobilisation and widespread public desire for change, after years of political polarisation and constrained electoral participation.

Senior leaders secure key seats

BNP chairman Tarique Rahman won decisively in both Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 constituencies, while the party’s secretary general, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, was elected from Thakurgaon-1.

Other prominent BNP victories included Bagerhat-3 (Shaikh Faridul Islam), Bandarban (Saching Prue), Barishal-1 (Zahir Uddin Swapan), Barishal-2 (Sardar Sarfuddin Ahmed), Barishal-3 (Zainul Abedeen), Barishal-4 (Rajib Ahsan), Barishal-5 (Mozibur Rahman Sarwar), Barishal-6 (Abul Hossain Khan), Barguna-2 (Md Nurul Islam), Bhola-2 (Hafiz Ibrahim), Bhola-3 (Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram), Bhola-4 (Mohammad Nurul Islam), Bogura-1 (Kazi Rafiqul Islam), Bogura-2 (Mir Shahe Alam), Bogura-3 (Abdul Mahit Talukder), Bogura-4 (Md Mosharraf Hossain), Bogura-5 (Golam Mohammad Siraj) and Bogura-7 (Morshed Milton).

BNP leaders also confirmed victories in Brahmanbaria-1 (MA Hannan), Brahmanbaria-3 (Khaled Hossain Mahbub), Brahmanbaria-4 (Mushfiqur Rahman), Brahmanbaria-5 (Abdul Mannan), Chandpur-1 (ANM Ehsanul Haq Milon), Chandpur-2 (Jalal Uddin), Chandpur-3 (Sheikh Farid Ahmed), Chandpur-5 (Mominul Haque), Chattogram-1 (Nurul Amin), Chattogram-2 (Sarwar Alamgir), Chattogram-3 (Mostofa Kamal Pasha), Chattogram-5 (Mie Mohammad Helal Uddin), Chattogram-6 (Gias Uddin Qader Chowdhury), Chattogram-7 (Humam Quader Chowdhury), Chattogram-8 (Ershad Ullah), Chattogram-9 (Muhammad Abu Sufiyan), Chattogram-10 (Saeed Al Noman), Chattogram-11 (Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury), Chattogram-12 (Mohammad Enamul Hoque), Chattogram-13 (Sarwar Jamal Nizam) and Chattogram-14 (Alhajj Jashim Uddin Ahammed).

In Cumilla, BNP candidates won Cumilla-1 (Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain), Cumilla-2 (Selim Bhuiyan), Cumilla-3 (Kazi Shah Mofazzal Hossain Kaykobad), Cumilla-5 (Jasim Uddin), Cumilla-6 (Monirul Haq Chowdhury), Cumilla-8 (Zakaria Taher), Cumilla-9 (Abul Kalam) and Cumilla-10 (Mobashwer Alam Bhuiyan).

The party also secured all four Cox’s Bazar seats — Cox’s Bazar-1 (Salahuddin Ahmed), Cox’s Bazar-2 (Alamgir Muhammad Mahfuzullah Farid), Cox’s Bazar-3 (Lutfur Rahman) and Cox’s Bazar-4 (Shahjahan Chowdhury).

Dhaka and northern strongholds

In the capital, BNP victories included Dhaka-1 (Khandaker Abu Ashfaq), Dhaka-6 (Ishraq Hossain), Dhaka-8 (Mirza Abbas), Dhaka-13 (Bobby Hajjaj) and Dhaka-20 (Tamiz Uddin).

In Dinajpur, the party won Dinajpur-1 (Md Manjurul Islam), Dinajpur-2 (Md Sadiq Riaz), Dinajpur-3 (Syed Jahangir Alam), Dinajpur-4 (Md Akhtaruzzaman Mia) and Dinajpur-6 (Abu Zafar Md Zahid Hossain).

Further victories were recorded in Faridpur-2 (Shama Obaid Islam), Faridpur-3 (Nayab Yusuf Ahmed), Faridpur-4 (Md Shahidul Islam), Feni-1 (Munshi Rafiqul Alam Majnu), Feni-2 (Zainal Abdin), Feni-3 (Abdul Awal Mintoo), Gaibandha-4 (Mohammad Shamim Qaiser), Gazipur-1 (Mozibur Rahman), Gazipur-2 (M Manjurul Karim Roni), Gazipur-3 (SM Rafiqul Islam) and Gazipur-5 (AKM Fazlul Haque Milon).

The BNP also secured multiple seats in Gopalganj, Habiganj, Jamalpur, Jashore, Jhalokati, Jhenaidah, Kishoreganj, Lakshmipur, Manikganj, Moulvibazar, Munshiganj, Mymensingh, Narayanganj, Narsingdi, Netrokona, Noakhali, Panchagarh, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Rajbari and Shariatpur, among others.

Jamaat-e-Islami’s resurgence

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami achieved a significant showing, winning 64 seats nationwide and establishing strongholds across the north and south-west.

In Nilphamari, the party won four seats — Nilphamari-1 (Md Abdus Sattar), Nilphamari-2 (Al-Faruk Abdul Latif), Nilphamari-3 (Obaidullah Salafi) and Nilphamari-4 (Abdul Muntakim). Rangpur also proved a major base, with victories in Rangpur-1 (Md Raihan Siraji), Rangpur-2 (ATM Azharul Islam), Rangpur-3 (Md Mahbubur Rahman Belal), Rangpur-5 (Md Golam Rabbani) and Rangpur-6 (Md Nurul Amin).

Jamaat candidates also won multiple seats in Kurigram, Gaibandha, Joypurhat, Khulna, Satkhira, Chapainawabganj, Rajshahi, Naogaon, Sirajganj, Pabna, Meherpur, Kushtia, Chuadanga, Jhenaidah, Jashore, Bagerhat, Narail, Faridpur, Chattogram, Cumilla, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, Mymensingh, Netrokona, Sherpur, Dhaka and Gazipur.

In Dhaka, the party secured Dhaka-14 through Mir Ahmad Bin Qasem and Dhaka-15 through Md Shafikur Rahman.

Smaller parties

The National Citizen’s Party (NCP) won five seats. Its successful candidates were Md Abul Hasnat (Cumilla-4), Akhtar Hossain (Rangpur-4), Atikur Rahman Mojahid (Kurigram-2), Abdullah Al Amin (Narayanganj-4) and Abdul Hannan Masud (Noakhali-6).

A decisive mandate

The scale of the BNP’s victory, achieved in a comparatively calm and participatory election, signals a decisive shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape. While final, official results are still awaited and allegations of irregularities remain under review, Thursday’s vote has already been framed by many voters and observers as a turning point — not only in terms of power, but in the restoration of public faith in the ballot.