Tarique Rahman set to become Prime Minister of Bangladesh, BNP secures majority after 20 years

Dhaka (The Uttam Hindu): In Bangladesh’s general elections, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has registered a decisive victory. The party has won 209 of the 299 parliamentary seats, comfortably crossing the 150-seat mark required to form the government. Results for 286 seats have been declared so far, confirming BNP’s clear majority.

An alliance of 11 parties led by Jamaat-e-Islami has secured 70 seats. Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman won from the Dhaka-15 constituency. With this outcome, BNP is set to return to power after nearly two decades. From 2008 to 2024, the country was governed by Awami League under Sheikh Hasina.

Following the victory, Tarique Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and BNP chief, is widely expected to become the next Prime Minister. Tarique Rahman contested from two constituencies and won both seats. He returned to Bangladesh in December last year after 17 years abroad.

This development also marks a historic shift, as Bangladesh is set to have a male Prime Minister after 35 years. The last male Prime Minister was Kazi Zafar Ahmed in 1988. From 1991 to 2024, national politics remained dominated by Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia, who alternated in power.