Tarique Rahman, who returned to Bangladesh after nearly two decades in exile, claimed a sweeping election victory on Thursday as his Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said it had secured a parliamentary majority and would form the next government.
From 18 years abroad to leading his party to what supporters described as a landslide win, Rahman’s political comeback marks a dramatic shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape following last year’s upheaval.
Jamuna TV, citing provisional results, reported that the BNP and its allies had won 211 of 299 constituency seats, while the rival Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance secured 70 seats. Official results have yet to be announced by the Bangladesh Election Commission.
Jamaat-e-Islami said it was not “satisfied” with the vote count and was raising “serious questions about the integrity of the results process”.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani leaders President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Rahman, describing the victory as “decisive” and “resounding”.
Rahman, 60, is the son of former military ruler General Ziaur Rahman, who founded the BNP before his assassination in 1981. His mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, led the party for decades.
Rahman returned to Bangladesh at Christmas after 18 years in exile in Britain. His campaign rallies drew large crowds, signalling a revival of the BNP after years of political pressure under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
A referendum was also held alongside the parliamentary vote on proposed political reforms, including term limits for the prime minister and stronger checks on executive power. Official results of the referendum have not yet been released.
