Muhammad Ibrahim

Ayesha Mir

DHAKA: Bangladesh&rsquo;s prime minister-in-waiting Tarique Rahman on Saturday called for national unity and a reset in regional engagement, signaling renewed outreach across South Asia after his party&rsquo;s sweeping victory in the country&rsquo;s first competitive election since the 2024 uprising. &ldquo;Our paths and opinions may differ, but in the interest of the country, we must remain united,&rdquo; Rahman said at his first post-election press conference. &ldquo;National unity is a collective strength. Division is a weakness.&rdquo; Dedicating the victory to pro-democracy activists, Rahman said, &ldquo;This victory belongs to Bangladesh. It belongs to democracy. It belongs to the people who aspired to and sacrificed for democracy.&rdquo; Rahman&rsquo;s Bangladesh Nationalist Party secured more than two-thirds of parliamentary seats, positioning him to form the next government after nearly two decades in political exile. Focus on India, Pakistan and SAARCPressed on relations with India, Rahman said Dhaka would prioritise strategic interests over ideology. &ldquo;We do not have country-centric policies,&rdquo; he told an Indian journalist. &ldquo;Our strategic interests come first. We prefer mutual, bilateral ties based on respect.&rdquo; On regional diplomacy, Rahman said Bangladesh would seek to revive the SAARC, noting Dhaka&rsquo;s historical role in launching the forum. &ldquo;As you know, SAARC was initiated by Bangladesh,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We will try to re-initiate that process.&rdquo; Asked whether Bangladesh could act as a negotiating bridge between India and Pakistan following tensions after the May 2025 crisis, Rahman said regional stability remained a priority but stopped short of committing to formal mediation. On the sensitive question of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina&rsquo;s status in India, Rahman said any decision would follow due process. &ldquo;The handing-over issue depends on legalities,&rdquo; he said. Domestic challenges acknowledgedRahman acknowledged the scale of challenges facing the incoming administration. &ldquo;We are about to begin our journey in a situation marked by a fragile economy left behind by an authoritarian regime, weakened constitutional institutions and a breakdown in law and order,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Restoring democracy is only the first step. Ensuring good governance is the real test.&rdquo; Responding to suggestions that his party&rsquo;s large majority could enable political &ldquo;engineering,&rdquo; Rahman rejected the claim. &ldquo;I think we engineered our campaign so that people would come out and vote,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We have been given a mandate by the people.&rdquo; He said the new government would listen closely to young voters while governing inclusively. &ldquo;Naturally we will listen to the youth, but we have other people in the country too, and we will take care of them as well.&rdquo; Election and reform&nbsp;Rahman&rsquo;s remarks came as Bangladesh concluded its 13th National Parliamentary Election, the first since a 2024 uprising ended 15 years of authoritarian rule. Final results show the BNP winning 209 seats outright, rising to 212 with allies. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68 seats, rising to 77 with alliance partners, emerging as the largest opposition force. Overall voter turnout stood at 59.44%. Running alongside the election, voters also endorsed the July National Charter in a nationwide referendum. More than 70 million ballots were cast, with nearly 48 million voters, about two-thirds, backing constitutional reforms aimed at limiting executive power, strengthening judicial independence, and restructuring parliament. European Union observers described the elections as credible, calling them &ldquo;a pivotal step towards restoring democratic governance and the rule of law.&rdquo; From the opposition, Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman accepted the outcome, pledging to act as a &ldquo;vigilant, principled and peaceful opposition.&rdquo; Pakistan-Bangladesh tiesInternational reaction, particularly from Pakistan, framed the outcome as a milestone for democratic continuity. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif telephoned Rahman to congratulate him on what he termed a &ldquo;historic and resounding victory,&rdquo; reaffirming Islamabad&rsquo;s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation. President Asif Ali Zardari also congratulated Rahman and the people of Bangladesh on the successful and peaceful conduct of the polls, while Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan would continue to engage Bangladesh &ldquo;on the basis of sovereign equality and mutual respect.&rdquo; With a clear mandate at home and reform legitimacy secured at the ballot box, Rahman now faces the task of translating electoral momentum into governance, while redefining Bangladesh&rsquo;s regional posture in a fractured South Asian landscape.

Bangladesh

Tarique Rahman secures a commanding parliamentary majority as EU observers say Bangladesh’s vote is credible, competently managed and a pivotal step toward restoring democratic governance.

Bangladesh’s next PM signals regional reset, unity and SAARC revival in first address

DHAKA: Bangladesh&rsquo;s election has simultaneously reshaped political power and locked in constitutional reform, as voters handed the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) a commanding parliamentary mandate while overwhelmingly approving a binding reform charter in a rare nationwide referendum. The vote, the first national election since a 2024 uprising ended years of political paralysis, was described as credible and competently managed by <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladeshs-election-commission-publishes-gazette-of-newly-elected-mps" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">international observers</a>, adding external validation to the country&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-jamaateislami-chief-recognizes-overall-outcome-of-election" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">democratic reset</a>. &ldquo;The 2026 parliamentary elections were credible and competently managed, marking a pivotal step towards restoring democratic governance and rule of law,&rdquo; said Ivars Ijabs, head of the European Union observer mission, speaking to reporters on Saturday. Final results of the 13th National Parliamentary Election show the BNP emerging as the dominant force in parliament, while voters also endorsed the July National Charter. A reform package designed to prevent a return to authoritarian rule and restructure core institutions of the state. According to the Election Commission (EC), voting was held in 299 of 300 constituencies, with results declared in 297. The BNP won 209 seats outright, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68 seats. Smaller parties and independents filled the remaining seats. Overall voter turnout stood at 59.44%. With alliance partners included, the BNP&rsquo;s total rises to 212 seats, while Jamaat&rsquo;s tally increases to 77 seats, giving it a significantly enlarged role as the main opposition in the new parliament. Running in parallel with the election, the national referendum on the July National Charter drew more than 70 million votes, with turnout at 60.26%. Official results show about 48 million voters, roughly 68%, backed the reforms, while nearly 23 million voted against. A government gazette notification, signed by Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed and issued on Friday night, confirmed that the referendum outcome makes the reform charter binding on parties that form the next government. Chief Adviser of the interim government Muhammad Yunus congratulated BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman on what he described as a decisive and historic mandate. &ldquo;The clear mandate delivered by the people in this historic democratic transition marks a significant milestone for the country&#39;s constitutional continuity, democratic consolidation and institutional stability,&rdquo; Yunus said in a written message. Expressing confidence in the incoming leadership, he added that Rahman would guide Bangladesh toward &ldquo;a stable, inclusive and development-oriented trajectory,&rdquo; grounded in democratic values, the rule of law, and accountable governance. From the opposition benches, Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Shafiqur Rahman announced that his party would accept the results and operate as a responsible opposition. &ldquo;We accept the overall results and respect the rule of law,&rdquo; he said in a public statement, describing the party&rsquo;s expanded presence in parliament as &ldquo;a foundation, not a setback.&rdquo; International reaction, particularly from Pakistan, framed the outcome as a milestone for democratic continuity. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif telephoned Rahman to congratulate him on what he termed a &ldquo;historic and resounding victory,&rdquo; reaffirming Islamabad&rsquo;s commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation. President Asif Ali Zardari also congratulated Rahman and the people of Bangladesh on the successful and peaceful conduct of the polls, while Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said Pakistan would continue to engage Bangladesh &ldquo;on the basis of sovereign equality and mutual respect.&rdquo; With electoral legitimacy restored, reforms approved by popular vote, and both winners and opposition accepting the verdict, Bangladesh closes its election chapter with a rebalanced political order and a constitutionally anchored path forward.

European Union observers called Bangladesh’s polls credible as voters delivered a landslide parliamentary mandate and simultaneously endorsed sweeping constitutional reforms through a nationwide referendum with turnout.

Articles tagged with "Bangladesh Elections"

Bangladesh’s next PM signals regional reset, unity and SAARC revival in first address

Bangladesh vote resets power balance, backs reforms after years of upheaval

Bangladesh’s next PM signals regional reset, unity and SAARC revival in first address