Bangladesh polls highlights: BNP inches towards majority, Jamaat bags 34; Tarique Rahman wins 2 seats
Bangladesh polls highlights: Bangladesh's parliament, called the Jatiya Sangsad, has 300 seats, with 151 required for a simple majority.
- 12:57 AM IST, Feb 13BNP heading for 'sweeping' election win
- 12:24 AM IST, Feb 13BNP tally now 135, Jamaat alliance bag 34
- 12:05 AM IST, Feb 13BNP inches towards majority mark, Jamaat alliance wins 34
- 11:48 PM IST, Feb 12BNP headed for a landslide win
- 11:34 PM IST, Feb 12BNP crosses 100 mark, Jamaat tally jumps to 28
- 11:04 PM IST, Feb 12BNP wins 99, Jamaat stuck at 23
- 10:42 PM IST, Feb 12BNP nears 100 wins, Jamaat tally up to 23
- 10:28 PM IST, Feb 12BNP tally up to 87, Jamaat wins 18 seats
- 10:12 PM IST, Feb 12BNP tally up to 82, Jamaat wins 17
- 10:00 PM IST, Feb 12BNP wins 72 seats, Jamaat tally rises to 16
- 9:55 PM IST, Feb 12Referendum on July Charter sails through
- 9:38 PM IST, Feb 12BNP tally up to 68, Jamaat crawls behind with 15 wins
- 9:06 PM IST, Feb 12BNP wins 57, Jamaat adds two more seats to its tally
- 8:38 PM IST, Feb 12BNP tally shoots up to 55 wins, Jamaat trails with 11 seats
- 8:18 PM IST, Feb 12BNP wins 46, Jamaat takes 9 as results continue to trickle in
- 8:04 PM IST, Feb 12What can be expected from Tarique Rehman at the helm in Dhaka?
- 7:53 PM IST, Feb 12BNP wins 37 seats, Jamaat trailing with 9 wins
- 7:45 PM IST, Feb 1240 results declared so far, BNP leads in 32 seats
- 7:35 PM IST, Feb 12Tarique Rehman also wins Dhaka-17
- 7:06 PM IST, Feb 12BNP's Tarique Rehman wins Dhaka-17
- 6:58 PM IST, Feb 12Jamaat chief all but concedes defeat
- 6:55 PM IST, Feb 12BNP wins 19 seats, Jamaat still at 2
- 6:24 PM IST, Feb 12Who has won how many seats?
- 6:08 PM IST, Feb 12BNP leads on 175 seats, Jamaat ahead on 30
- 6:05 PM IST, Feb 12BNP wins Jhenaidah-1
- 5:21 PM IST, Feb 12BNP supporters celebrate | WATCH
- 5:14 PM IST, Feb 12BNP's Tangail-7 candidate wins by massive margin
- 5:01 PM IST, Feb 12BNP leading on 50 seats, Jamaat follows with 18
- 4:56 PM IST, Feb 12BNP makes big gains in Netrokona district
- 4:53 PM IST, Feb 12BNP’s Asaduzzaman wins Jhenaidah-1
- 4:47 PM IST, Feb 12BNP candidates leading in all Bogura constituencies
- 4:44 PM IST, Feb 12Female candidate assaulted in Rajshahi‑3 constituency
- 4:40 PM IST, Feb 12The exile and rise of Tarique Rahman
- 4:31 PM IST, Feb 12Tarique Rahman wins Dhaka-17
- 4:29 PM IST, Feb 12Tarique Rahman makes early gains, BNP on advantage
- 4:09 PM IST, Feb 12BNP blames ‘rivals’ for low voter turnout
- 4:06 PM IST, Feb 12BNP says party's victory ‘inevitable’
- 3:45 PM IST, Feb 12Jamaat leader says will accept poll result even if others don't
- 3:32 PM IST, Feb 12What next for Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus
- 3:29 PM IST, Feb 12What Sheikh Hasina said on polls
- 3:00 PM IST, Feb 12When will the Bangladesh election results be announced?
- 2:43 PM IST, Feb 12Four people die during polling
- 2:23 PM IST, Feb 12Pink and white, why voters cast two votes
- 2:21 PM IST, Feb 12Key contest between Tarique Rahman's BNP and Jamaat-led coalition
- 1:34 PM IST, Feb 12Yunus praises people for peaceful voting
- 1:22 PM IST, Feb 12Jamaat-led alliance eyes landslide victory
- 12:59 PM IST, Feb 12Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: Low turnout shows people rejected Bangladesh polls, says Hasina
- 12:57 PM IST, Feb 12Hasina calls Bangladesh polls ‘well-planned farce’
- 12:44 PM IST, Feb 12Why this election matters for Jamaat-e-Islami party?
- 12:41 PM IST, Feb 12Election in numbers
- 12:28 PM IST, Feb 12What Election Commission of Bangladesh said about voter turnout
- 12:20 PM IST, Feb 12Muhammad Yunus praises voters
- 12:14 PM IST, Feb 12How is today's election different from the past?
- 12:07 PM IST, Feb 12Jamaat, BNP allege voting irregularities
- 11:42 AM IST, Feb 12When will the results be announced?
- 11:40 AM IST, Feb 12Key issues in crucial post-Hasina polls
- 11:37 AM IST, Feb 12First election in 30 years without ‘boat’ symbol
- 11:21 AM IST, Feb 12Voting concludes
- 10:45 AM IST, Feb 12Voting ends, 47.91% voter turnout recorded
- 10:39 AM IST, Feb 12Five held after blast in Munshiganj
- 10:35 AM IST, Feb 12Birthday of new Bangladesh, says Muhammad Yunus
- 10:23 AM IST, Feb 122 detained after 100+ stamped ballot papers recovered from Sherpur polling station
- 10:17 AM IST, Feb 12‘If the election is fair…’: What Tarique Rahman said
- 10:07 AM IST, Feb 12Jamaat chief praises army
- 10:00 AM IST, Feb 12Voting underway amid tight security
- 9:55 AM IST, Feb 12Polling officer dies after falling sick
- 9:26 AM IST, Feb 1223 injured as BNP-Jamaat supporters clash in Meherpur
- 9:05 AM IST, Feb 12Top leaders cast votes, voting to end at 4:30pm local time
- 8:48 AM IST, Feb 12Hindus cast vote in Dhaka in crucial parliamentary election
- 8:32 AM IST, Feb 12No ‘boat’ symbol on ballot for the first time in 30 years
- 8:17 AM IST, Feb 12Crucial elections rocked by clashes, crude bomb explosions
- 8:04 AM IST, Feb 12When will voting end?
- 7:45 AM IST, Feb 12Tea worker Ratan Shuvo Kar found dead hours ahead of voting
- 7:33 AM IST, Feb 1232.88% voter turnout recorded across over 32,000 centres: EC official
- 7:25 AM IST, Feb 12Over 1 million postal ballots reach returning officers
- 7:14 AM IST, Feb 12When will results be declared? The key question answered
- 6:58 AM IST, Feb 12BNP leader dies amid confrontation with Jamaat supporters
- 6:48 AM IST, Feb 12Nahid Islam, who overthrew Hasina's govt, confident of victory
- 6:40 AM IST, Feb 12What is National referendum, another key poll aside from elections?
- 6:33 AM IST, Feb 12Tarique Rahman's rival alleges discrepancies, BNP responds
- 6:16 AM IST, Feb 12What Tarique Rahman said after casting vote in Dhaka
- 5:35 AM IST, Feb 12BSF on high alert in Jalpaiguri as Bangladesh holds elections
- 5:17 AM IST, Feb 123 injured in Sheikh Hasina's former stronghold due to crude bomb blasts
- 5:10 AM IST, Feb 12Why Bangladesh polls matter to India
- 5:01 AM IST, Feb 12Voter turnout between 3% to 13% in several Dhaka centres
- 4:48 AM IST, Feb 12Yunus casts vote in Dhaka, calls it ‘birthday of new Bangladesh’
- 4:31 AM IST, Feb 12Tarique Rahman confident of BNP victory in Bangladesh
- 4:13 AM IST, Feb 12Low turnout at Sheikh Hasina, Awami League's stronghold Gopalganj
- 3:55 AM IST, Feb 12Tarique Rahman casts vote in Dhaka's Gulshan
- 3:50 AM IST, Feb 12BNP frontrunner Tarique Rahman arrives to cast vote in Dhaka
- 3:32 AM IST, Feb 12Who is Tarique Rahman, the frontrunner in Bangladesh polls?
- 3:22 AM IST, Feb 12In a first, Jamaat fields first Hindu candidate
- 3:10 AM IST, Feb 12Where is Sheikh Hasina? What did she say about the election?
- 3:05 AM IST, Feb 12Why it is being dubbed world's first Gen Z-inspired election
- 2:52 AM IST, Feb 12Bangladesh Jamaat chief Shafiqur Rahman casts vote
- 2:34 AM IST, Feb 12Key BNP leader casts vote
- 2:24 AM IST, Feb 12Nearly 1 million security personnel deployed by EC
- 2:12 AM IST, Feb 12Which constituency has highest number of voters?
- 2:06 AM IST, Feb 12Voter hopes for ‘corruption-free nation’ as country heads to polls
- 1:55 AM IST, Feb 12Why voting is being held in 299 out of 300 constituencies
- 1:54 AM IST, Feb 12Election chief urges ‘festive spirit’ as voting begins
- 1:46 AM IST, Feb 12Long queues of voters line up at polling stations
- 1:35 AM IST, Feb 12Voting begins in Bangladesh
- 1:28 AM IST, Feb 12When will the results be declared?
- 1:16 AM IST, Feb 12What do the opinion polls say?
- 1:11 AM IST, Feb 12Who are the top contenders in this election?
- 1:02 AM IST, Feb 12All you need to know about the election
- 12:30 AM IST, Feb 12When will voting begin?
- 12:24 AM IST, Feb 12Sheikh Hasina’s party barred from contesting polls
- 12:09 AM IST, Feb 12Crucial vote today; BNP’s Rahman seen frontrunner
Bangladesh polls highlights: This live blog has ended, follow here for live updates on results. Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has made some early gains in the Bangladesh polls and has secured Dhaka-17 and Bogra-6 constituencies, according to the Dhaka Tribune. According to the latest updates, BNP is leading in over 175 seats, and Jamaat is ahead in 30....Read More
Bangladesh's parliament, the Jatiya Sangsad, has 300 seats, with 151 required for a simple majority.
Counting is currently underway after voting concluded largely peacefully in Bangladesh on Thursday, February 12. Voter turnout of 47.91% was recorded till 2pm after the voting officially ended at 4:30pm (local time), Election Commission (EC) Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said. Voting was also held for the National Referendum, which will decide whether the July Charter will be adopted.
Meanwhile, former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who is in exile in India, dismissed the elections as a ‘farce’ and made allegations of election rigging. “From the evening of 11 February, this farce began with seizure of polling centers, gunfire, vote-buying, distribution of money, stamping of ballots, and agents signing result sheets,” she said in a statement posted by Awami League party on X. She alleged the voter turnout was ‘negligible’ and said, “ The people’s voting rights, democratic values, and the spirit of the Constitution were completely disregarded in this deceptive, voter-less election conducted without the Awami League.”
Although more than 2,000 candidates are in the fray in today’s election, only 109 of them are women, according to the Daily Star newspaper.
The poll is also being seen as the country’s first real contest since 2009, despite Hasina’s Awami League being stopped from contesting after the Election Commission cancelled its registration.
Follow Dhaka polls live updates here
More than 127 million people are eligible to vote in the country of nearly 170 million. A total of 1,981 candidates are in the fray for seats in Parliament across the nation. The process is being managed by an interim government headed by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, which has promised free, fair and peaceful elections.
- Pink vs white ballot
Bangladesh voters on Thursday cast two votes each – one for the national election with white ballot and another for the National Referendum, with pink ballots to decide whether the July National Charter should be adopted. The 'July Charter' lays out reforms for good governance, democracy, and social justice through institutional reforms, and to prevent “recurrence of authoritarian and fascist rule."
- Who are the top contenders?
For years, politics in Bangladesh has centred on two rival families and two powerful women, Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia.
Sheikh Hasina led the country for much of this period, but her Awami League has been barred from contesting the current election. After the ban, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) emerged as the front-runner. It has put forward Tarique Rahman, the son of former prime minister Zia, who died in December, as its main face in the race.
Rahman came back to Bangladesh in December after spending 17 years in self-imposed exile. He has said he wants to strengthen democratic institutions, revive the rule of law and revive the economy.
The BNP is facing a challenge from an 11-party bloc led by the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, which seeks to expand its role in national politics. Notably, Jamaat-e-Islami was banned during Hasina’s tenure, but it has since regained ground after she was removed from office. This coalition also includes the recently launched National Citizen Party, formed by Gen Z student leaders linked to the 2024 uprising.
- World’s first Gen Z-inspired election
Many of the young people who played a part in removing her government in the 2024 uprising believe this election will be the Muslim-majority nation’s first real contest since 2009, the year Hasina began her 15-year tenure.
The National Citizen Party, led by Gen Z activists under 30, has joined hands with Jamaat after it failed to turn its anti-Hasina street protests into broader voter support.
"Several factors will shape the outcome, including how Generation Z, which makes up about a quarter of the electorate, votes, as their choices will carry considerable weight,” Parvez Karim Abbasi, executive director at Dhaka's Centre for Governance Studies, told news agency AFP.
- What did Sheikh Hasina say about the elections?
Bangladesh’s ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina criticised the vote from her exile in India after her party was prevented from contesting.
In an email sent to The Associated Press earlier this month, Hasina warned that Bangladesh could face long-term instability if the election is not inclusive, free and fair.
“Each time political participation is denied to a significant portion of the population, it deepens resentment, delegitimises institutions and creates the conditions for future instability," she wrote.
"A government born of exclusion cannot unite a divided nation,” Hasina added.
- Key issues in Bangladesh polls
These are the main concerns in the country, which has been run by an unelected interim administration since Hasina’s turbulent removal from power:
Corruption: A recent survey by the Dhaka-based Communication Research Foundation and Bangladesh Elections and Public Opinion Studies showed that corruption is the biggest worry for voters. Bangladesh has for years ranked among the worst performers in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.
Inflation: Official figures show inflation rose to 8.58% in January. In the same survey, more than two-thirds of those questioned named “prices” as their second-most serious concern.
Economic development: Bangladesh was once among the fastest-growing economies in Asia. However, the nation has found it hard to recover pace after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted its export-led garment industry. People placed economic development as their third main concern.
Employment: About 40% of the population is under 30. The next government will face strong pressure to create jobs for millions of young citizens following months of unrest.
Ban on Awami League: Hasina’s Awami League has been kept out of the election. She said that without her party, millions of its backers will have no one to vote for, and many could choose to boycott the polls. Some citizens have said they will not vote. However, experts do not expect a large-scale boycott and believe former Awami League supporters will still influence the final result.
- A crucial test for Bangladesh’s democracy
Apart from the vote, there will be a referendum on political reforms. These proposals include limits on the length of a prime minister's term, tighter checks on executive authority, and other steps to curb the concentration of power in Parliament.
The outcome will show whether the country moves towards real institutional change or continues under existing power patterns. Since gaining independence from Pakistan in 1971, Bangladesh has seen periods of military rule and fragile democratic systems.
The result will also indicate whether youth-led protest movements can turn into lasting democratic change. Nearly 5 million people are first-time voters and will cast their ballots for the first time.
- When will the Bangladesh election results be announced?
In past elections, unofficial trends have usually started coming in early the next morning.
However, ECB officials told local media that the count could take longer this year. The process will include both the white parliamentary ballot papers and the pink ballots used for the referendum on the July National Charter.
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Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: BNP heading for 'sweeping' election win
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: Here are the key updates to know so far:
- The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by Tarique Rahman is heading for a thumping win in the first elections held since a deadly 2024 uprising, Bangladeshi TV stations projected Friday.
- Senior BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, in a party statement, claimed a "sweeping victory", without giving figures, calling for followers to give thanks in prayer on Friday rather than celebrate on the streets.
- The Islamist-led coalition headed by Jamaat-e-Islami had won 63 seats, the stations projected, a huge leap from its past results but far short of the outright win it had campaigned for.
- The results are not official and counting continues for a total of the 299 constituencies of 300 in which voting took place.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: BNP tally now 135, Jamaat alliance bag 34
BNP is increasingly marching towards majority mark in Bangladesh, having now won 135 seats, more than 100 ahead of their nearest rivals, the Jamaat-e-Islami alliance, who have 34. Rest of the five out of the 174 seats where the result has been announced have gone to others.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: BNP inches towards majority mark, Jamaat alliance wins 34
With results of more than half of the 300 seats announced, the BNP is inching closer to the majority mark in Bangladesh. The party has won 127 out of the 165 seats where the results have been confirmed, the Daily Star reported.
Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies have won 34 seats while 4 seats have gone to others so far.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: BNP headed for a landslide win
BNP is headed for a landslide win in the first election in Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina's ouster in August 2024, local TV projections show.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: BNP crosses 100 mark, Jamaat tally jumps to 28
The BNP has crossed the 100 mark in terms of wins, so far bagging 107 seats out of 139 results announced. Jamaat-e-Islami has also added to their wins, bagging 28 seats while others have now won four.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: BNP wins 99, Jamaat stuck at 23
The BNP has now won 99 seats and is inching ever closer to the majority mark of 151. Jamaat-e-Islami, however, is still stuck on 23 as results for 125 seats has been declared. Others have also not added anything to their previous tally of three so far.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: BNP nears 100 wins, Jamaat tally up to 23
The BNP win tally has gone up to 91 seats, while their nearest rival, Jamaat-e-Islami has won 23 seats. These wins have come out of 117 seats on which the results have been announced so far. Others tally remains at three.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: BNP tally up to 87, Jamaat wins 18 seats
The BNP win tally has gone up to 87 seats, while their nearest rival, Jamaat-e-Islami has won 18 seats. These wins have come out of 108 seats on which the results have been announced so far. Others tally remains at three.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: BNP tally up to 82, Jamaat wins 17
The BNP is closing in on the halfway mark in the Bangladesh election, with the party tally now standing at 82. The results for 102 seats have been announced, with Jamaat-e-Islami winning 17 seats so far. Others have won just three seats.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: BNP wins 72 seats, Jamaat tally rises to 16
The BNP and its allies will now have at least 72 members in the next parliament, with the party poised to win a lot more. Jamaat-e-Islami has so far won 16 seats out of the 91 where the results have been announced. Others have won 3 seats so far.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: Referendum on July Charter sails through
The referendum on the July Charter has sailed through, with more than 72 per cent of voters approving it, results show.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: BNP tally up to 68, Jamaat crawls behind with 15 wins
The BNP has now won 68 seats in the Bangladesh elections, out of the 85 seats for which results have been announced so far. Jamaat-e-Islami is a far distant second at the moment with 15 seats won. Others have so far won two seats.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: No victory rally for BNP
With the Bangladesh Nationalist Party poised to win the 13th national election, its leadership has called for restraint and nationwide prayers rather than public celebrations.
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has directed leaders and activists at all organisational tiers to offer special prayers across the country after Juma prayers today.
He has also asked party leaders and supporters not to organise any victory rallies or gatherings anywhere in the country.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: BNP wins 57, Jamaat adds two more seats to its tally
BNP tally of wins now stands at 57, with 70 results announced so far in the historic Bangladesh elections. Jamaat-e-Islami has added a couple more seats to its tally, bringing its total to 13 wins. Independents have won two seats so far, the Daily Star reported.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: BNP tally shoots up to 55 wins, Jamaat trails with 11 seats
BNP's tally of wins has shot up to 55, with results from 67 seats declared so far. Its nearest rival, Jamaat-e-Islami, has raised its tally to 11, while an independent candidate has won one seat.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: 9 deaths reported during voting
At least nine people, including a leader of Bangladesh Nationalist party (BNP), a presiding officer, and a polling officer died on the day of voting for the 13th parliamentary elections at various locations across the country.
Some of them fell ill at polling centres, some on their way after voting, and some while performing their duties at the centres. In some cases, allegations and counter-allegations have also arisen regarding the deaths.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: BNP wins 46, Jamaat takes 9 as results continue to trickle in
The BNP has so far won 46 of the 56 seats where the results have been declared. of the others, 9 have gone to its nearest rival, Jamaat-e-Islami, while the other one went to an independent, the Daily Star reported.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: What can be expected from Tarique Rehman at the helm in Dhaka?
Tarique Rahman has pledged to recalibrate Bangladesh’s international partnerships to attract investment without tying the country too closely to any single power, in contrast to ousted PM Sheikh Hasina, who was seen as aligned with New Delhi.
He has also highlighted expanding financial aid for poor families, reducing reliance on garment exports by promoting industries such as toys and leather goods, and introducing a two-term, 10-year limit for prime ministers to deter autocratic tendencies.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: BNP wins 37 seats, Jamaat trailing with 9 wins
The BNP has won 37 seats out of the 46 results announced so far, the Daily Star reported. Jamaat-e-Islami has so far won 9 seats.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: 40 results declared so far, BNP leads in 32 seats
BNP is increasing its tally with every result announcement, winning 32 of the 40 seats declared so far. Its nearest rival, Jamaat-e-Islami, has so far won 8 seats.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: Tarique Rehman also wins Dhaka-17
In unofficial results reported by the news agency PTI, Bangladesh Election Commission officials said BNP chairman and former premier Khaleda Zia's son, Tarique Rahman, won from both the Dhaka-17 and Bogra-6 constituencies.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: BNP's Tarique Rehman wins Bogura-6
According to results announced by the office of the District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Md Taufiqur Rahman, tallies from 150 polling centres have been completed. The Bogura-6 constituency has a total of 151 voting centres, including postal ballots.
As per the provisional figures, Tarique Rahman, contesting with the sheaf of paddy symbol, secured 216,284 votes, the Daily Star reported. His closest contender, Abidur Rahman Sohel of Jamaat-e-Islami, who contested with the scales symbol, received 97,626 votes.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: Jamaat chief all but concedes defeat
The chief of Bangladesh's Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami party said on Thursday that his party would not engage in "politics of opposition" for the sake of it, an indication that he was conceding the national election as votes were being counted.
"We will do positive politics," Shafiqur Rahman told reporters, as the rival Bangladesh Nationalist Party was inching closer to the halfway mark of 151 in the legislature of 300 members.
Bangladesh election result 2026 live updates: BNP wins 19 seats, Jamaat still at 2
Of the 21 results announced officially so far, BNP has won 19 seats. Its one-time ally, Jamaat-e-Islami, has won 2 seats.

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