Tarique Rahman set to become Bangladesh PM as BNP secures commanding victory in national elections; PM Modi reacts

PTC Web Desk:  The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, is heading towards a resounding majority in the country’s parliamentary elections held on Thursday, paving the way for the 60-year-old leader to assume the office of prime minister.

According to unofficial figures emerging from the Election Commission and party insiders, Rahman has won from both Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 constituencies. The BNP, which contested 292 of the 300 parliamentary seats while leaving the remainder to its allies, appears poised to secure a comfortable two-thirds majority in the Jatiya Sangsad.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to Tarique Rahman and the BNP, describing the outcome as a clear endorsement of the party’s leadership. In a message posted on X, PM Modi said he looked forward to working with the incoming government to deepen bilateral ties and advance shared development priorities. He reiterated India’s commitment to supporting a democratic and inclusive Bangladesh.

The United States also welcomed the election outcome. US Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen congratulated the people of Bangladesh for a successful poll and expressed Washington’s readiness to cooperate with the new administration on common goals related to security and economic growth.

BNP election committee spokesperson Mahdi Amin said early trends indicated the party was on course to win at least two-thirds of the seats. Senior BNP leader Ruhul Kabir Rizvi termed the result a “sweeping mandate” and urged party workers to mark the victory with prayers rather than public celebrations.

A return after 17 years

Tarique Rahman, the eldest son of former President Ziaur Rahman and former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, returned to Bangladesh after nearly 17 years in exile in the United Kingdom. His political comeback followed the death of his mother, after which he formally assumed the role of BNP chairman in December 2025, having earlier served as acting chief.

Rahman’s political career has been marked by both influence and controversy. During the 2001–2006 BNP-led coalition government, he was widely seen as a key power centre within the administration. However, the turbulent political period that followed, including the military-backed caretaker government of 2007–08, led to his arrest on multiple charges. He spent 17 months in custody before moving to London for medical treatment.

Several cases, including convictions delivered in absentia, were later overturned after the political upheaval that led to the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024. The Awami League did not contest the current election due to the suspension of its registration, reshaping the electoral landscape significantly.

India-Bangladesh relations in focus

One of the immediate diplomatic tests for the new BNP-led government will be recalibrating relations with India. Bilateral ties, once at their strongest under Sheikh Hasina, have faced strain in recent months.

Rahman has indicated that future engagement with New Delhi would be based on “mutual respect and understanding.” When asked about rebuilding trust while India continues to host Hasina and members of her party, he remarked that progress would depend on reciprocal steps.