Bangladesh Elections: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was ahead of the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, according to early trends, as counting continued after key national elections were held in Bangladesh on Thursday.
Counting began in most booths at 4:30 p.m., immediately after polling stations closed, with clear trends expected around midnight and results likely to be clear by Friday morning, citing reports Electoral Commission officials.
The election was the first since the overthrow of a student-led uprising in 2024 Sheikh Hasina after fifteen years of Awami League rule.
The election is seen as a direct contest between Tarique Rahman’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and an 11-party coalition led by resurgent Jamaat-e-Islami party chief Shafiqur Rahman. Senior Advisor Muhammad YunusThe interim government banned Sheikh Hasina’s party, the Awami League, from contesting the election.
BNP ahead in 78 seats
The BNP was leading with 78 seats, while the Jamaat-e-Islami was ahead by 38 seats, according to Ekushey TV’s early trends for about 116 of the 299 seats that went to polls on Thursday. In another report, Reuters quoted local television news stations as saying that BNP was leading with 50 seats and Jamaat with 18.
bangladesh parliament, Sangsad casteit has 300 seats, with 151 needed for a simple majority. A candidate in one of the seats died, leaving the fight for 299 seats.
While opinion polls point to Tarique Rahman, the BNP chairman, as the front-runner for prime minister, a Jamaat-led alliance that includes the National Civic Party (NCP), formed by student leaders behind the 2024 uprising, could spring a surprise, the poll predicted.
The parliament has 350 legislators: 300 elected directly from single-member constituencies and another 50 reserved for women. Elections were held for 299 seats due to the death of a candidate.
In addition to the elections, a referendum was also held
A referendum was also held on political reforms, including limiting the prime minister’s term of office, tighter controls on the executive and other safeguards to prevent the consolidation of parliamentary power.
Local media reported that more than 60% of registered voters were expected to vote. However, there has been no official word on the final turnout.
Both candidates for prime minister – BNP’s Tarique Rahman and Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman said they were confident of victory.
This election is a turning point for Bangladesh; people want change.
“I am confident that I will win the election. There is enthusiasm among the people about voting,” Tarique Rahman told reporters, while Jamaat’s Shafiqur Rahman called the election a “turning point” for Bangladesh and said people were eager for change.