The Bangladesh Nationalist Party claims a thumping win on Friday in the first elections held since a deadly 2024 uprising.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) claimed a thumping win on Friday in the first elections held since a deadly 2024 uprising, with leader Tarique Rahman poised to become prime minister.
But final official results are yet to come and BNP’s main rival Jamaat-i-Islami — leading a wider coalition — said it had “serious questions about the integrity of the results process”.
The Jamuna television channel projected that the BNP had secured 212 seats.
It said Jamaat had won 74, a huge leap from its past results but far short of the outright win it had campaigned for. Somoy TV broadcast similar figures.
A man reads an English daily newspaper at a store, the morning after the 13th general election, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, February 13, 2026. —ReutersElection Commission officials announce updates, the day after the 13th general election, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, February 13, 2026. —ReutersA man reads a newspaper with an election related headline, a day after the national election in Dhaka, Bangladesh, February 13, 2026. —ReutersA Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) supporter shows the victory sign while posing for a photo next to BNP’s voting symbol ollowing the 13th general election, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, February 13, 2026. —ReutersPolice officers sit outside a party office of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), a day after the national election in Dhaka, Bangladesh, February 13, 2026. —ReutersMembers of the media look at documents of preliminary election results at the Election Commission office in Dhaka on February 13, 2026. —AFPThe front pages of newspapers featuring Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairman and election candidate Tarique Rahman, are pictured in Dhaka on February 13, 2026. —AFPPolice officers stand guard in front of the Election Commission office, a day after the national election in Dhaka, Bangladesh, February 13, 2026. —ReutersVendors wait for customers at a market in Dhaka on February 13, 2026. —AFPMembers of the media look at documents of preliminary election results at the Election Commission office in Dhaka on February 13, 2026. —AFPA man walks past campaign posters of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairman and election candidate Tarique Rahman outside his office as counting continues in Bangladesh’s general election, in Dhaka on February 13, 2026. —AFPpeople are seen at a newspaper stall in Dhaka on February 13, 2026. —AFPSecurity personnel stand guard in front of the Election Commission office, a day after the 13th general election, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, February 13, 2026. —ReutersA man holds a newspaper with a front page featuring Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chairman and election candidate Tarique Rahman, on a street in Dhaka on February 13, 2026. —AFP
Header image: People read newspapers at a store, the morning after the 13th general election, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, February 13, 2026. —Reuters
