Bangladesh s BNP wins big in historic parliamentary election

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) achieved a significant victory in the parliamentary election held on Thursday, as reported by local TV stations on Friday. This election is important for Bangladesh, as it aims to bring back political stability to the South Asian country. It was the first election since the 2024 uprising driven by younger voters that removed long-time leader Sheikh Hasina. A clear result was necessary for peace in the predominantly Muslim nation of 175 million people, especially after months of violent protests against Hasina that disrupted daily life and affected major industries, such as the garment sector, which is vital for Bangladesh as the world’s second-largest garment exporter. This election also marked the first national vote following recent protests by individuals under 30 in the wider region. Nepal is preparing to hold its own elections next month. Polls had indicated that the BNP would perform well, and the party delivered, winning 209 seats and securing a strong two-thirds majority in the 300-seat Jatiya Sangsad, also known as the House of the Nation, according to Jamuna TV. After learning of their majority from the overnight vote count, the BNP expressed gratitude to the people and called for special prayers on Friday for the country and its citizens. The party stated, "Even though we won the national parliamentary election by a large margin, there will be no celebratory processions or rallies organized by the BNP." They encouraged citizens to pray in mosques, temples, churches, and pagodas nationwide. The BNP is led by Tarique Rahman, a prime ministerial candidate who is 60 years old and the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and former President Ziaur Rahman.