Bangladesh Election: BNP nears two-thirds majority with 207 seats, set to form next government
The polls were held to choose a new government to replace the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus, which assumed power 18 months ago following the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is on course to form the next government after early results indicated a strong performance in the Bangladesh’s general election. Counting is still under way, but projections showed the party crossing the halfway mark in the 300-member parliament.
As per the latest trends, BNP has won 207 seats while 11-party coalition, Jamaat-e-Islami, registered victory on 46 seats. The National Citizen Party amassed 6 seats while 5 seats went to independent candidates and others.
However, the Election Commission (EC) has not yet released the final figures. An EC spokesperson, cited by PTI, stated that vote counting in some constituencies was still in progress and that official results would be declared within a few hours.
The polls were held to choose a new government to replace the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus, which assumed power 18 months ago following the fall of the Awami League government in August 2024.
The election mainly saw a contest between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its former ally, Jamaat-e-Islami. The Awami League, once led by former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, did not take part as the party has since been disbanded.
Voters also cast their ballots in a referendum on an 84-point reform plan known as the July National Charter, which proposes wide-ranging changes to the country’s political and administrative systems.
The BNP has earlier announced that if it forms the government, its chairman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s son, Tarique Rahman, would take over as prime minister.
"We are confident of forming the government by winning more than two-thirds of seats," BNP's central election steering committee spokesman Mahdi Amin told a media briefing.
About Bangladesh Election 2026
Bangladesh witnessed heavy security and widespread participation as voters cast their ballots in parliamentary elections across the country. The vote counting process began shortly after polling stations closed at 4:30 pm local time.
Over 2,000 contenders, including several independent candidates, competed for 299 of the 300 parliamentary seats. Voting in one constituency was postponed following the death of a candidate.
Rahman, who came back to Bangladesh in December last year after spending more than 17 years in self-imposed exile, appealed to party members and supporters to hold special prayers instead of organising celebration rallies. He asked them to gather for prayers after the mid-day Juma prayers across the country.
The Election Commission put extensive security measures in place to ensure a smooth and peaceful election. Nearly one million security personnel were deployed nationwide.
Officials said the arrangements were designed to maintain order and allow voters to cast their ballots safely.