Bangladesh Nationalist Party Set To Form Government.

Dhaka; February 2026: 20:30 Hours (IST): The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) today has won a landslide parliamentary election, returning to power after nearly two decades and positioning party leader Tarique Rahman to become Prime Minister as the country emerges from months of unrest and economic disruption. In a post on X, the BNP Media cell has reaffirmed, “The Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP is set to form the government after winning the majority”.

The official count in a vote viewed as the South Asian nation’s first truly competitive election in years gave the BNP and its allies at least 212 of the 299 seats up for grabs, the Election Commission said. The opposition Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies won 77 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad, or House of the Nation.

A clear outcome had been viewed as key for stability in the Muslim-majority nation of 175 million after months of deadly anti-Hasina unrest disrupted everyday life and industries including garment manufacturing. Bangladesh is the No. 2 exporter of apparel in the world.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the US ambassador to Bangladesh, Brent T. Christensen, were among the first to congratulate Rahman on his party’s victory. Soon after, the US Ambassador to Bangladesh, Brent T Christensen in a post on X on Friday extended wishes to Bangladesh on the successful elections and congratulated the BNP Chairperson. The United States Ambassador said, “Congratulations to the people of Bangladesh on a successful election and to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Tarique Rahman on your historic victory. The United States looks forward to working with you to realise shared goals of prosperity and security for both our countries”.

While India, China and the United States are vying for influence in Bangladesh, with the US ambassador found to have given public interviews that Washington was concerned about growing Chinese influence in the country. New Delhi-Dhaka relations have plummeted since former PM Hasina had fled and took refuge in India, badly affecting visa services and cricket ties between the two neighbours.

BNPs chairman, Tarique Rahman, has requested that the celebration of this victory be postponed out of respect for the passing of his mother, Khaleda Zia, before the election. Therefore, they have called for prayers for Khaleda Zia after the Friday congregational prayer. Rahman has been declared elected from the Bogura-6 (Sadar) constituency after securing a decisive victory over his nearest rival.

Bangladesh ushered in its most pivotal polls as it seeks to enter into a new chapter from the classic ‘Battle of Begums’ era on Thursday. This election feels heavy after the demise of Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the ban on her nemesis, Sheikh Hasina’s party, the Awami League.

Team Maverick.