Saturday, 14 February, 2026
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Friday expressed heartfelt gratitude to his supporters for their unwavering affection and for helping his party achieve a historic landslide victory in the 13th National Parliamentary Elections.
“I am grateful for the love you have shown me. Please pray for me,” he said while addressing a crowd gathered outside his Gulshan residence before leaving for Jum'a prayers.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) clinched over two-thirds of the parliamentary seats on Thursday, paving the way for Tarique Rahman to lead the government as Prime Minister for the first time. The massive mandate has not only marked a triumphant return for the BNP but also symbolised a new chapter in Bangladesh’s democratic journey.
International leaders joined in celebrating the historic outcome, with the United States, China, India and Pakistan extending their congratulations to Tarique Rahman and his party.
Despite the jubilant atmosphere, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman threatened protests if allegations of vote rigging and post-election attacks on his party’s activists were not addressed promptly. He spoke at a press conference following a meeting with leaders of the 11-party alliance in Moghbazar, claiming that several candidates were “robbed of victory” through manipulation.
On Friday, Tarique proceeded from his residence to the Bangladesh Navy Headquarters Mosque for Jum'a prayers, personally interacting with supporters along the way. Many expressed their commitment to stand by him in building a new Bangladesh, to which he responded with gratitude.
The 13th National Election concluded peacefully, marking the first violence-free national vote since Bangladesh’s independence in 1971. Voter turnout was high, with enthusiastic participation from first-time and female voters across approximately 42,958 polling centres.
Tarique Rahman won both Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 constituencies with a staggering 216,284 votes, representing 69.10 per cent of the total cast. Unofficial results show BNP winning 209 seats, with alliance partners adding three more, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami emerged as the main opposition with 68 seats.
The Election Commission reported a voter turnout of 59.44 per cent in the parliamentary polls and 60.26 per cent in the referendum, which saw 4.8 crore ‘Yes’ votes and 2.25 crore ‘No’ votes. Foreign observers and independent monitoring groups praised the election for its transparency and adherence to international standards.
Security for the elections was unprecedented, with over 800,000 officials deployed alongside army, navy, air force, paramilitary and police personnel to maintain order. Nearly 55,454 local and 394 foreign observers, including 200 international journalists, monitored the proceedings closely.
The landslide result signals a decisive mandate for BNP and Tarique Rahman, setting the stage for a new era in Bangladesh’s political landscape.
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BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on Friday expressed heartfelt gratitude to his supporters for their unwavering affection and for helping his party achieve a historic landslide victory in the 13th National Parliamentary Elections.
“I am grateful for the love you have shown me. Please pray for me,” he said while addressing a crowd gathered outside his Gulshan residence before leaving for Jum'a prayers.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) clinched over two-thirds of the parliamentary seats on Thursday, paving the way for Tarique Rahman to lead the government as Prime Minister for the first time. The massive mandate has not only marked a triumphant return for the BNP but also symbolised a new chapter in Bangladesh’s democratic journey.
International leaders joined in celebrating the historic outcome, with the United States, China, India and Pakistan extending their congratulations to Tarique Rahman and his party.
Despite the jubilant atmosphere, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman threatened protests if allegations of vote rigging and post-election attacks on his party’s activists were not addressed promptly. He spoke at a press conference following a meeting with leaders of the 11-party alliance in Moghbazar, claiming that several candidates were “robbed of victory” through manipulation.
On Friday, Tarique proceeded from his residence to the Bangladesh Navy Headquarters Mosque for Jum'a prayers, personally interacting with supporters along the way. Many expressed their commitment to stand by him in building a new Bangladesh, to which he responded with gratitude.
The 13th National Election concluded peacefully, marking the first violence-free national vote since Bangladesh’s independence in 1971. Voter turnout was high, with enthusiastic participation from first-time and female voters across approximately 42,958 polling centres.
Tarique Rahman won both Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 constituencies with a staggering 216,284 votes, representing 69.10 per cent of the total cast. Unofficial results show BNP winning 209 seats, with alliance partners adding three more, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami emerged as the main opposition with 68 seats.
The Election Commission reported a voter turnout of 59.44 per cent in the parliamentary polls and 60.26 per cent in the referendum, which saw 4.8 crore ‘Yes’ votes and 2.25 crore ‘No’ votes. Foreign observers and independent monitoring groups praised the election for its transparency and adherence to international standards.
Security for the elections was unprecedented, with over 800,000 officials deployed alongside army, navy, air force, paramilitary and police personnel to maintain order. Nearly 55,454 local and 394 foreign observers, including 200 international journalists, monitored the proceedings closely.
The landslide result signals a decisive mandate for BNP and Tarique Rahman, setting the stage for a new era in Bangladesh’s political landscape.
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