Dhaka, February 13, 2026 — The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has secured a parliamentary majority in the country’s 13th national elections, marking its return to power after two decades. With results declared for 297 of 299 contested seats, the BNP and its allies won 212 seats, positioning party leader Tarique Rahman to become the next prime minister.
The Election Commission reported voter turnout at 59.4 percent. Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies finished second with 77 seats, while Islami Andolon Bangladesh won one seat. Independent candidates and smaller parties accounted for the remaining seven seats. Voting was conducted peacefully across most constituencies, in contrast to previous election cycles.
Alongside the general election, a national referendum on constitutional reform received strong public backing. According to official figures, 68.1 percent of voters — representing more than 48 million citizens — supported the July National Charter. The reforms include a two-term limit for the prime minister, the creation of a bicameral legislature, and measures to strengthen judicial independence.
Rahman, who recently returned to Bangladesh after years abroad, is expected to be sworn in within days. BNP leaders have called for restraint in celebrations and emphasized the need for national reconciliation.
International leaders have begun extending congratulations to the incoming administration, while legal experts note that the approved constitutional changes could significantly reshape the country’s political framework in the years ahead.
