The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), under the leadership of Tarique Rahman, has declared victory in the country’s first national elections since a significant student-led movement brought down the previous government in 2024. Mr. Rahman, 60, who spent nearly two decades in exile in Britain, returned to Bangladesh in December to participate in this crucial election. He has observed closely the nation’s journey since its founding in 1971, a history deeply connected to his family through his father and mother, who both played significant roles in its early governance.
Official results from the election, held on Thursday, are anticipated later on Friday, though the BNP was widely expected to win. The party announced in a social media post: “The Bangladesh Nationalist Party is going to form the government by winning the majority of seats.” This election represents a critical moment for Bangladesh, testing the nation’s capacity to translate widespread protest into tangible political change. Voters were also asked to participate in a referendum on key reforms stemming from the student demonstrations.
**The Road to the Election: A Student-Led Uprising**
The path to this election was far from ordinary. It began in July 2024 with a widespread student revolution that ultimately led to the ouster of the former, increasingly autocratic Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina. Students took to the streets, fueled by deep frustrations over economic stagnation, rampant corruption, and a controversial job reservation system. The movement escalated into outrage after Ms. Hasina ordered a violent crackdown on protesters, resulting in over 1,400 deaths. She subsequently fled to India, and her party, the Awami League, was barred from contesting this election—a decision Ms. Hasina publicly condemned as a “farce.”
In a later statement after polling concluded, Sheikh Hasina reiterated her stance, calling the elections a “farce” due to her party’s exclusion. Currently in exile in India, she was convicted by a Bangladesh court in November of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death. Meanwhile, after casting his vote in Dhaka, Tarique Rahman stated his immediate priority would be to enhance law and order in Bangladesh, emphasizing a return to normalcy as essential for the nation’s growth and the safety of its citizens.
During his brief campaign, Tarique Rahman championed the students’ vision for a more democratic and inclusive Bangladesh. The student movement advocated for crucial reforms, including greater judicial independence, term limits for prime ministers, and enhanced representation for women. While Mr. Rahman has committed to addressing these demands, his political lineage ties him to the BNP, one of the two long-standing parties that have largely governed Bangladesh since its independence from Pakistan in 1971.
**Calls for Reform and an Uncertain Future**
Many Bangladeshis view this election as an opportunity to establish a more inclusive democracy, equipped with safeguards against authoritarianism and the systemic corruption that ignited the protests. Voter turnout was expected to be historically high, a stark contrast to the January 2024 election, which was widely criticized as rigged and saw less than a quarter of eligible voters participate. Millions of young people cast their ballots for the first time, eager to shape their nation’s future after years of political stagnation.
An interim government, led by economist and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, presided over the country following the Awami League’s fall. Mr. Yunus clarified his role as facilitating a smooth transition to an elected government and did not seek office himself. With the Awami League sidelined, the BNP emerged as the dominant contender, with Tarique Rahman poised to become the next prime minister. The party campaigned on a platform of “Bangladesh before all,” emphasizing an inclusive approach to governance.
Other significant political entities, such as Jamaat-e-Islami—a party advocating for Islamic law—also made considerable gains. Historically viewed as outside the mainstream due to its opposition to Bangladesh’s independence, Jamaat has recently leveraged public anger over the perceived demonization of Muslims, particularly in neighboring India. A new entrant, the student-led National Citizen Party (NCP), formed to pursue legally enforceable political reforms, chose to ally with Jamaat for the election, a decision that caused unease among students desiring a more secular and inclusive political direction.
At the core of this election is the fate of the students’ reformist vision, encapsulated in the July National Charter 2025 referendum. This charter proposes measures like increased women’s political participation and judicial independence. Despite broad support, political maneuvering and opposition from major parties, including the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Jamaat, led to a diluted set of proposals. Critics, like Dr. Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International in Bangladesh, voiced concerns that the compromises weakened the movement’s ambitious goals, lamenting a “lost opportunity” to solidify a new political course.
**A Nation at a Crossroads**
Women played a prominent role in the protest movement, making proposals for increased female representation particularly significant. The July Charter aimed for at least 10% female candidates in the proposed Upper House and a roadmap to 33% representation in the Lower House over successive elections. However, the limited nomination of women candidates (only 81 out of 2,028 total candidates) and controversial remarks from Jamaat’s leadership regarding women’s employment, which the party later attributed to a hack, underscored the challenges.
The journey from the 2024 student revolution to Thursday’s election has been turbulent, marked by riots, a rise in Islamic extremism, violent political clashes, attacks on Hindu minorities, and even diplomatic tensions with India over cricket matches. Despite this history, the mood leading up to the election was largely festive. The government declared a two-day national holiday, leading many residents of Dhaka to travel to their home districts to vote, with trains often overcrowded. Campaigning was intense, characterized by large, environmentally friendly fabric posters. Yet, the presence of nearly a million security forces deployed nationwide served as a somber reminder of past violence, with over 1,000 police officers still facing charges for their roles in the 2024 crackdown. Bangladesh remains a nation navigating the complex interplay between its tumultuous past and an uncertain future. Jane Alam contributed to this report.