Bangladesh’s 13th national parliamentary election, held on 12 February 2026 under the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus, concluded peacefully and was widely described as the most transparent and orderly in the country’s history. The Election Commission announced results for 297 constituencies, confirming a landslide victory for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies, who won 212 seats. Tarique Rahman is set to become the 13th Prime Minister, marking BNP’s return to power after two decades. The election saw a voter turnout of 59.44 percent, with a concurrent referendum yielding 68.1 percent “yes” votes.

International media including CNN, Al Jazeera, The Guardian, The Dawn, and NDTV praised the election’s fairness and its potential impact on South Asian politics. The armed forces were credited for maintaining order, and the interim government was commended for ensuring a violence-free process. However, post-election violence was reported in several districts, leaving one person dead and over a hundred injured.

Analysts noted that Jamaat-e-Islami emerged as the second-largest political force with 68 seats, while the newly formed National Citizen Party (NCP) gained six seats. Observers described Jamaat’s rise as a “yellow signal” for BNP’s future political dominance.

Newly elected Member of Parliament S M Jilani from Gopalganj-3 (Kotalipara-Tungipara) constituency has issued a strong message to his party members, declaring that he will neither commit nor tolerate any wrongdoing. Speaking on Saturday night at a gathering near Kazi Montu Filling Station in Kotalipara, he warned that anyone involved in criminal activities would face consequences, regardless of personal closeness.

Jilani, who represents the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), emphasized that the current democratic awakening was achieved through sacrifice and hardship. He reminded party activists that political power is not permanent and can change within hours, urging them to avoid misuse of power, oppression, or injustice. He further advised that actions harmful to personal life or the party should be avoided, stressing that no one is above the law.

During the event, Jilani also attended a Baul music performance at Bhatter Bagan in Unshia village and exchanged greetings with locals. Senior BNP leaders from Gopalganj district and local units were present. Jilani was elected MP on February 12, 2026, with a large margin.

The BNP-led alliance secured 212 out of 299 parliamentary seats in Bangladesh’s 13th national election, representing about 71 percent of the total. The Jamaat-led alliance won 77 seats, or 26 percent, while independent candidates captured seven seats and Islami Andolan Bangladesh won one. Voting in one constituency was postponed. Across 299 constituencies, a total of 75.9 million votes were cast, with the BNP alliance receiving about 38 million votes, or roughly 50 percent. The Jamaat alliance obtained 28.25 million votes, or 37 percent, and other parties and independents shared 9.65 million votes, about 13 percent.

According to the report, 50 political parties participated in the election, but candidates from 43 parties failed to win any seats. Within the BNP alliance, one candidate each from BJP, Gano Adhikar Parishad, and Ganosamhati Andolon won. Jamaat’s allies NCP, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, and Khelafat Majlish won six, two, and one seats respectively, while other smaller allied parties failed to secure any victories.

The final results may change slightly once the postponed constituency’s outcome is added, the report noted.

Following the thirteenth parliamentary election, the BNP achieved a sweeping victory in Sylhet, winning 18 of the division’s 19 constituencies. Party chairman Tarique Rahman, who began his campaign in Sylhet on January 22 after visiting the shrines of two saints, is now preparing to form the new cabinet. Local political observers are closely watching who will be included, with widespread curiosity and discussion across social media.

Sylhet, known as both a BNP stronghold and the home district of Rahman’s in-laws, played a decisive role in the party’s success. Residents now expect significant ministerial representation from the region, including full ministers, state ministers, and technocrat appointments. Several newly elected MPs from Sylhet are already in Dhaka for discussions with the party high command.

Names under consideration reportedly include Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, Ariful Haque Chowdhury, Reza Kibria, Kalim Uddin Ahmed Milon, and G.K. Gaus. Possible technocrat appointees include Maulana Ubaidullah Faruq, Humayun Kabir, and Abdul Kaiyum Chowdhury. Final decisions will depend on the BNP chairman’s discretion.

Jamaat-e-Islami faced a significant setback in the 13th parliamentary elections across Sylhet, Chattogram, Barishal, and Mymensingh divisions, according to results announced by the Election Commission. The party failed to win any seat in Sylhet, where its ally Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish secured one. In Mymensingh, Jamaat won two seats while its ally won two more, with most other constituencies dominated by BNP. In Barishal, Jamaat won two out of 21 seats, while in Chattogram it managed three out of 58. In Dhaka division, the party performed relatively better in the capital, winning six of 15 city seats, but struggled in other districts.

In contrast, Jamaat-e-Islami achieved strong results in Khulna and Rangpur divisions. The party and its allies won 39 of 69 seats across these two regions, including 25 of 36 seats in Khulna and 18 of 33 in Rangpur. Jamaat also secured 11 seats in Rajshahi division. The data shows a sharp regional divide in the party’s electoral performance, with dominance in the west and heavy losses in the east and south.

The Bangladesh Army has been widely praised for its neutral and professional role in maintaining law and order during the 13th parliamentary election. Deployed under the ‘In Aid to Civil Power’ framework, the army worked across the country to ensure a peaceful and fair voting environment. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations Directorate (ISPR), around 100,000 army personnel, along with members of the navy and air force, were stationed in 62 districts and 411 upazilas. The army is expected to return to barracks soon, pending government instruction.

Following the July revolution, the army had been assisting the civilian administration for about one and a half years to stabilize the country. Before the election, troops conducted operations to recover illegal weapons, arrest criminals, and prevent unrest. On election day, they coordinated with police and other law enforcement agencies to prevent ballot snatching, control crowds, and ensure voter safety. Army Chief General Waker-Uz-Zaman visited several districts to oversee operations and provide guidance.

ISPR sources reported that the army recovered over 10,000 weapons and detained more than 22,000 identified criminals since the uprising, contributing significantly to restoring public confidence in the electoral process.

In the 13th parliamentary election, 20 out of 33 candidates in Sylhet district lost their security deposits across six constituencies. The unofficial results were announced on Thursday night by the district’s returning officer and Deputy Commissioner Sarwar Alam. According to the Election Commission’s circular, any candidate receiving less than one-eighth, or 12.5 percent, of total votes cast forfeits their deposit.

The results show that six candidates in Sylhet-1, three in Sylhet-2, four in Sylhet-3, three in Sylhet-4, one in Sylhet-5, and three in Sylhet-6 lost their deposits. In Sylhet-1, for example, 325,000 votes were cast, and candidates needed at least 40,692 votes to retain their deposits. Similar thresholds were applied in other constituencies, with several candidates from parties such as Ganadhikar Parishad, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and Jatiya Party failing to meet the required vote share.

The forfeiture of deposits highlights the limited electoral support for smaller parties and independent candidates in Sylhet’s six constituencies during the 13th national polls.

Seven former presidents of Islami Chhatra Shibir have been elected as members of the National Parliament. They contested the February 12 election under the banner of Jamaat-e-Islami and won by a large margin. The newly elected MPs include Jamaat’s Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr. Abdullah Muhammad Taher (Comilla-11), Central Executive Committee member Saiful Alam Khan Milon (Dhaka-12), Assistant Secretary General Maulana Rafiqul Islam Khan (Sirajganj-4), Central Executive Committee member and Dhaka South Ameer Nurul Islam Bulbul (Chapainawabganj-3), Central Working Committee member and Dhaka South Secretary Dr. Shafiqul Islam Masud (Patuakhali-2), Salahuddin Ayyubi (Gazipur-4), and Hafiz Rashedul Islam (Sherpur-1).

According to the report, nine other former Shibir presidents also participated in the election but were defeated. In total, Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68 parliamentary seats in this election. The results highlight the continued political presence of former student leaders within the party’s national leadership structure.

The election outcome strengthens Jamaat-e-Islami’s representation in parliament and underscores the influence of its former student wing leaders in shaping the party’s political direction.

The London High Court has ruled that the UK government’s decision to ban the pro-Palestinian organization Palestine Action Group as a terrorist group was unlawful. The verdict, delivered on Friday, followed a legal challenge by the group’s co-founder Huda Ammori, who described the ruling as a major victory for the organization. The group had been banned in July of the previous year for taking direct action against Israel-linked defense companies, including blocking entrances and spraying red paint on facilities.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressed disappointment with the court’s decision, saying she disagreed with the view that the ban was disproportionate. The British government announced it would appeal the ruling. The court stated that the ban would remain in effect until the appeal process is completed, noting that the prohibition represented a disproportionate interference with freedom of expression and assembly.

London police confirmed that despite the court’s ruling, the ban remains in force, and supporting the group’s activities continues to be a criminal offense. A hearing on whether the government can proceed with its appeal is scheduled for February 20.

Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) Mayor Dr. Shahadat Hossain has called for immediate elections in all city corporations across Bangladesh. He made the appeal on Saturday afternoon while speaking to journalists after inaugurating the Spring Festival at Shaheed Wasim Smriti Park in Ambagan, Chattogram. Dr. Shahadat stated that following the July Revolution, all city mayors and councillors fled, and the interim government dissolved the corporations, appointing administrators instead. He regained his mayoral position through a court order but said the city’s 41 wards are operating without councillors, leaving residents deprived of adequate services.

According to city corporation regulations, a mayor serves for five years from the day of oath-taking, meaning Dr. Shahadat could remain in office for nearly four more years. However, he urged the new government to organize elections promptly in the interest of the public. He argued that bureaucrats currently running other city corporations cannot deliver effective services without elected representatives. Dr. Shahadat added that the recent parliamentary election proved that free and fair polls are possible and expressed confidence that upcoming local government elections would be peaceful and representative.

Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and Dr. Reza Kibria have been unofficially elected as Members of Parliament in Bangladesh’s 13th National Election held on February 12. Muktadir, the BNP chairman’s adviser and party-nominated candidate, won the Sylhet-1 constituency with 176,936 votes, defeating Jamaat’s Maulana Habibur Rahman, who received 134,983 votes. Dr. Reza Kibria, who recently joined the BNP and contested from Habiganj-1, secured 111,999 votes, while his closest rival, Maulana Md. Sirajul Islam of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, obtained 56,132 votes.

Both Muktadir and Kibria are following in the political footsteps of their fathers. Muktadir is the son of Khandaker Abdul Malik, a BNP MP elected in 1991. Dr. Reza Kibria is the son of former finance minister and diplomat Shah AMS Kibria, who served as UN ESCAP secretary-general before joining the Awami League in 1992. Shah AMS Kibria was elected MP from Habiganj-3 in 2001 and was killed in a grenade attack at a public meeting in Habiganj on January 27, 2005.

In Rajshahi-3 (Paba-Mohonpur) constituency, the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami candidates exchanged greetings following the 13th parliamentary election. The event took place on Saturday at noon at the residence of Jamaat candidate Professor Abul Kalam Azad in Adariapara, Horogram Union, where he congratulated BNP’s winning candidate Advocate Shafiqul Haque Milon with flowers. Both leaders shared sweets and engaged in a brief, cordial discussion, marking a gesture of democratic goodwill after a competitive election.

Local political figures described the exchange as a positive example of political harmony and a reflection of evolving democratic culture in the region. They expressed hope that mutual respect and cooperation would open new avenues for sustainable development in Rajshahi-3. Professor Azad pledged full cooperation for the constituency’s progress, while Milon emphasized working together for public welfare despite political differences.

According to the official results, Milon won with 176,318 votes under the BNP’s symbol, while Azad received 137,927 votes under Jamaat’s symbol. Observers viewed the gesture as a message of unity and constructive politics in post-election Bangladesh.

Nineteen candidates in six parliamentary constituencies of Barishal lost their deposits in Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election, according to results announced late Thursday night by Barishal District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Khairul Alam Suman. Under Election Commission rules, a candidate must secure at least one-eighth (12.5%) of total votes to retain the deposit; otherwise, the Tk 50,000 deposit is forfeited to the state treasury. The forfeited deposits from these 19 candidates will amount to Tk 950,000.

In Barishal-1, two of five candidates lost deposits; in Barishal-2, six of eight; in Barishal-3, three of six; in Barishal-4, two of five; in Barishal-5, three of six; and in Barishal-6, three of six. The affected candidates represented parties including the Jatiya Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, JASAD, Ganadhikar Parishad, NPP, Bangladesh Muslim League, and others.

The results highlight the limited electoral performance of several smaller political parties and independent contenders across Barishal’s constituencies, with their combined forfeited deposits contributing to the national treasury.

Hundreds of candidates across Bangladesh lost their election deposits in the 13th national parliamentary elections held nationwide. Reports from multiple districts, including Sirajganj, Dinajpur, Rajshahi, Gazipur, Cumilla, Tangail, and others, confirmed that many contestants failed to secure the minimum required votes to retain their deposits. In Sirajganj alone, 27 out of 39 candidates lost their deposits, while in Cumilla, 57 out of 83 candidates faced the same outcome. According to election officials, candidates who failed to obtain one-eighth of the total valid votes in their constituencies forfeited their deposits.

District correspondents reported similar results in Dinajpur, Gaibandha, Pirojpur, Barguna, and other regions. Notably, several prominent figures, including a five-time MP from the Jatiya Party, also lost their deposits. The forfeitures affected candidates from various political parties such as the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jatiya Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, and several independent contenders.

The widespread loss of deposits highlights the competitive nature of the election and the uneven distribution of voter support across constituencies, as confirmed by returning officers in multiple districts.

BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman is scheduled to visit Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and National Citizens Party (NCP) Convener Nahid Islam at their residences in Dhaka on Sunday. The visits, set for 7 p.m. in Bashundhara Residential Area and 8 p.m. on Bailey Road respectively, are described as courtesy meetings following the BNP’s victory in the 13th parliamentary election. According to BNP Media Wing member Shamsuddin Didar, the meetings aim to convey a message of positive politics.

On Saturday, Tarique Rahman called for unity and cooperation in governing the country during a press conference. The 13th parliamentary election was held on February 12 across 299 constituencies, where the BNP secured 209 seats. Results for two constituencies, Chattogram-2 and Chattogram-4, remain pending due to legal complications. Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats, while the NCP gained six.

The meetings are expected to reinforce post-election political cooperation among parties that performed strongly in the recent polls, according to the information provided.