BNP set to pip Jamaat in Bangladesh elections

Bangladesh on Thursday conducted its 13th parliamentary elections with polling across 299 constituencies amid tight security, but in the absence of the country's oldest political party Awami League. Voting continued uninterrupted at 42,659 polling stations despite allegations of rigging and violence in certain pockets. The counting of votes was still in progress at press time. As per initial reports, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was set to pip radical Jamaat-e-Islami to win elections. Pro-Pakistan Jamaat will, however, register its best performance as it has the backing of state institutions.

BNP has shown willingness to work with India if voted to power, claiming it has overcome the baggage of the past. A political party used social media in an attempt to spread fear among voters on the eve of the elections, BNP alleged. There were incidents of a "festival of black money", fraud and the discovery of pre-stamped ballot papers in various places, according to BNP. Despite all this, BNP leaders believe the party is heading toward a landslide victory.

Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance has described the voting process as "excellent", expressing hopes of winning a "landslide victory" and securing the "highest number" of seats despite alleging some isolated incidents of violence and irregularities.


Bangladesh's former PM Sheikh Hasina termed the elections as "farcical" while expressing gratitude to citizens, including women and minority communities, for rejecting the polls. Condemning the "so-called" election organised by the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, Hasina said the administration that seized power "illegally and unconstitutionally", orchestrated a "well-planned farce". She underscored that the people's voting rights, democratic values and the spirit of the Constitution were completely disregarded in the "deceptive, voterless election", conducted without the participation of the Awami League.