Bangladesh Election Results 2026: Tarique Rahman's BNP leading on most seats; counting underway
Bangladesh Election Results 2026: Bangladesh people on Thursday voted in the crucial general elections to elect a new government to replace the interim administration, which took charge after the fall of the Awami League regime in August 2024.
As the counting of votes is underway for the 13th parliamentary elections in Bangladesh on Thursday, trends indicate the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is leading on most of the seats. BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman is also leading comfortably in both constituencies.
According to Dhaka Tribune, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is leading in 60 seats, while Jamaat-e-Islami is ahead in 18 seats, and the National Citizens Party (NCP) on one seat so far.
Bangladesh voted to select a new government
Bangladesh today voted in a crucial general election to choose a new government to replace the interim administration that assumed power after the fall of the Awami League regime in August 2024.
Voting for the 13th parliamentary elections was held in 299 of the 300 constituencies across the country, beginning at 7:30 am (local time) under tight security and continuing until 4:30 pm. In polling stations where voters were still in queues at closing time, voting was allowed to continue until all present had cast their ballots. Counting of votes has already begun in several places.
The election in one constituency was cancelled following the death of a candidate.
The parliamentary polls were conducted alongside a nationwide referendum on an extensive 84-point reform package.
The contest is being viewed primarily as a direct battle between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its former ally, Jamaat-e-Islami, in the absence of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League. The Awami League was disbanded and barred from contesting the elections by the interim government led by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus last year.
Will accept results if elections are free and fair: BNP, Jamaat chiefs
Leaders of top Bangladesh contending parties said that they will accept the results of the elections if they are held in a "free, fair, impartial manner."
"I have exercised my constitutional right to vote. For more than a decade, the people of Bangladesh have been waiting for this day," Rahman said, emerging from the polling centre.
He said if elected to power, "We will lay priority to improving law and order in the country so that people feel secure".
Later, after visiting several polling centres in the capital, he said that BNP will accept the results if the election is held in a "free, fair, impartial manner and without controversy". "If the people cast their votes, there can be a democratic beginning in the country from today," he was quoted as saying by the state-run BSS news agency.
Shafiqur Rahman, the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami, BNP's once ally and now main contender, cast his vote at the Monipur Uchcha Vidyalaya and College.
Emerging from the polling centre, Shafiqur said his party would accept the results if the election were held fairly.
He said he hoped the election would pave the way for forming a government that would not belong to any individual, family, or party, but to the country's 180 million people.
"We are optimistic about forming such a government. Pray for us," he was quoted as saying by the BSS.
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