New Delhi: Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Friday claimed victory in the crucial general elections, marred by sporadic incidents of violence, to elect a new
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government to replace the interim administration, which took charge after the fall of the Awami League regime in August 2024. "The Bangladesh Nationalist Party-BNP is set to form the government after victory in the majority of seats," BNP's media cell posted on X. The Election Commission (EC) is yet to make a formal announcement. According to multiple media reports, the EC is expected to declare BNP the winner in the general elections with tallies in predawn hours on Friday, suggesting it got majority seats in parliament. Different media tallies suggested BNP received more than 151 seats in the 300-seat parliament on Thursday’s daylong voting, fair enough to form the next government, ending the 18-month rule of Muhammad Yunus-led interim government.
According to an EC spokesperson, the results in several seats are still being processed and are likely to be announced in a few hours. The congratulatory messages have already started pouring in for the BNP, while the EC is yet to announce the official results.
Tarique Rahman, the son of the country’s former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia who died in December 2025, is likely to take charge of the country’s leadership as Prime Minister.
While the results of Bangladesh’s high-stakes elections are almost clear, and there is likely an air of suspense on the next leadership that will run the country, what’s not clear is the future of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had to escape the country in the wake of violent protests and is currently living in exile in India.
Scenario 1: Sheikh Hasina Could Be Extradited to India
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has appealed to India to hand over Sheikh Hasina, saying doing so will not be an act of a friendly gesture between the two neighbors.
In a statement earlier, Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry during the Yunus-led regime in a message to New Delhi had conveyed "refuge to these individuals, who have been convicted of crimes against humanity, by any other country would be a highly unfriendly act and a disregard for justice."
Sheikh Hasina is facing a death sentence for the violent crackdown on student protesters during the 2024 July uprising.
Scenario 2: Hasina Will Return to Bangladesh and Challenge Death Sentence
During her stay in exile in India, Sheikh Hasina has issued significant statements on the interim leadership and violence against minorities in the incumbent Yunus-led regime. She called out the recently concluded national election as “sham,” hitting out at the administration for conducting polls in an atmosphere of fear and violence.
Being active and in sync with Bangladesh politics, Sheikh Hasina may surprise everyone and return to Bangladesh to challenge her death sentence and might also fight to lift the ban on her political outfit Awami League.
It is interesting to note that last month in January, Hasina addressed Dhaka from Delhi and called upon the citizens to rise up against the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.
“To overthrow the foreign-serving puppet regime of this national enemy at any cost, the brave sons and daughters of Bangladesh must defend and restore the Constitution written in the blood of martyrs, reclaim our independence, safeguard our sovereignty, and revive our democracy," she had said in a statement.
What India Said on Bangladesh’s Extradition Request for Sheikh Hasina
India conveyed to Bangladesh that it had noted the verdict against Sheikh Hasina but said that the decision to return to the country was up to her.
Following the July 2024 mass uprising that led to the removal of the Awami League from power, the interim government imposed a ban on all activities of the party on May 12 last year. Soon afterwards, the Election Commission suspended the party’s registration.
The government has said the ban will remain in place until trials at the International Crimes Tribunal are completed. As a result, the party, which governed Bangladesh for more than two decades across six separate terms, has been barred from contesting the election.
PM Modi Congratulates Tarique Rahman on Election Victory
Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Tarique Rahman on his "decisive victory" in Bangladesh's parliamentary elections and said he looked forward to working with him to advance common development goals.
"I convey my warm congratulations to Mr. Tarique Rahman on leading BNP to a decisive victory in the Parliamentary elections in Bangladesh," Modi said in a post on X.
Modi said Rahman’s victory showed the trust of the people of Bangladesh in his leadership.
A Quick Wrap Up of Bangladesh Elections
The election was seen as a direct contest between the BNP and its former ally Jamaat-e-Islami, in the absence of ousted premier Sheikh Hasina's now debarred Awami League.
The voting for the 13th parliamentary elections was held along with a referendum on the implementation of a complex 84-point reform package, known as the July National Charter.
BNP was in power last time between 2001 and 2006 when Jamaat was its crucial partner, with two of its leaders serving as ministers.
Jamaat has raised allegations of "abnormal delays" and "result tampering," warning that it would launch a tough movement if the public mandate were "snatched away".
With inputs from PTI
