Bangladesh PM-in-Waiting Tarique Rahman Calls for Unity as BNP Secures Landslide Victory

Bangladesh’s prime minister-in-waiting, Tarique Rahman, has called for national unity and dedicated his party’s resounding victory to those who “sacrificed for democracy,” following a decisive win by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in the country’s parliamentary elections.

In his first speech since the results were announced on Saturday, Rahman emphasized the importance of cohesion despite differing views. “Our paths and opinions may differ, but in the interest of the country, we must remain united,” he said. “I firmly believe that national unity is a collective strength, while division is a weakness.”

According to the official gazette released by the Bangladesh Election Commission, the BNP-led alliance secured 212 of the 299 parliamentary seats, leaving 77 for the Jamaat-e-Islami-led coalition.

The National Citizen Party, led by youth activists who played a pivotal role in challenging the previous administration, managed only six of the 30 seats it contested, reflecting the challenges of translating protest momentum into electoral success.

Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, congratulated Rahman on the “landslide victory of his party” as he prepared to hand over power to the elected government.

The 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate expressed confidence that Rahman would steer the nation toward stability, inclusiveness, and sustainable development.

Meanwhile, the opposition Jamaat-e-Islami party acknowledged the election outcome, stating that it had accepted the “overall result” despite raising concerns over certain aspects of the vote count.

Rahman’s emphatic win marks a significant shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape, positioning the BNP to lead the country with a clear mandate while underscoring the call for national unity after a fiercely contested election.