A constitutional and political impasse has emerged in Bangladesh over who will administer the oath to newly elected members of parliament following the 13th national election held on 12 February 2026. The Law Ministry has proposed securing bail or parole for detained Deputy Speaker Shamsul Haque Tuku so he can conduct the ceremony, but the victorious Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has rejected taking the oath from anyone associated with the former Awami League government. If no alternative is found, the MPs may take their oath before Chief Election Commissioner A.M.M. Nasir Uddin within three days of the gazette publication, as permitted by the constitution.

The interim government, led by Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus, has been consulting with legal and constitutional experts to resolve the issue. The Speaker’s post remains vacant following Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury’s resignation after the 2024 uprising, while Tuku remains imprisoned on charges of crimes against humanity. The Law Ministry and the Prime Adviser’s Office have held multiple meetings to explore legal options, including authorizing the Chief Justice or a presidential appointee to administer the oath.

The parliamentary secretariat has completed all preparations for the ceremony, and the interim government aims to transfer power to the new administration before Ramadan, with BNP planning to form the government by 15 February.

Hasnat Abdullah, the chief organizer of the NCP’s southern region, has been elected from Cumilla-4 constituency with the Shapla Koli symbol, securing 166,583 votes in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. His nearest rival, BNP-backed Gon Odhikar Parishad candidate Md. Jasim Uddin, received 49,000 votes. Speaking to journalists at Cumilla Town Hall after receiving his victory certificate from the district returning officer’s office on Friday afternoon, Abdullah said he won with 80% of the votes and vowed to win the hearts of those who did not support him.

He emphasized his intention to build a just society where even enemies would not face injustice. Referring to the period since August 24, Abdullah said he could no longer remain as he was before, as new responsibilities now rest on his shoulders. He mentioned the loss of several comrades, including Shaheed Hadi Bhai, and pledged to take responsibility for the families of martyrs as part of his future work.

Abdullah’s remarks highlighted his focus on unity and fairness as guiding principles for his upcoming parliamentary role.

In the 13th National Parliamentary Election, deposits of 20 candidates from three constituencies in Feni were forfeited after they failed to secure one-eighth of the total valid votes, as required by election rules. Only six candidates from the BNP and Jamaat-led 11-party alliance retained their deposits, according to unofficial results.

In Feni-1, BNP’s Rafiqul Alam Majnu and Jamaat’s S.M. Kamal Uddin were the only candidates to meet the threshold, while five others lost their deposits. In Feni-2, BNP’s Zainal Abedin and AB Party chairman Mojibur Rahman Manju retained theirs, with nine others forfeiting. In Feni-3, BNP’s Abdul Awal Mintu and Jamaat’s Mohammad Fakhroddin Manik met the required vote share, while six others failed to do so.

The results show that the BNP and Jamaat-led alliance dominated the three constituencies, leaving other parties and independent candidates far behind in vote counts.

Ershad’s Jatiya Party (Japa) has faced a complete political collapse in Bangladesh’s latest national election held on February 12, 2026. Once dominant in the Rangpur region, the party fielded candidates in 200 constituencies across the country but failed to win a single seat. In Rangpur Division, where it contested 30 of 33 seats, Japa lost all to the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance, while the National Citizen Party (NCP) secured two seats. The results mark the end of Japa’s four-decade-long political presence.

The report attributes Japa’s downfall to its long-standing alliance with the Awami League and its perceived closeness to India. Party chairman GM Quader, who previously acknowledged discussions with Indian officials, claimed that the Awami League had “blackmailed” Japa into joining the election. However, voters rejected the party, and all its candidates forfeited their deposits. Internal divisions among factions led by GM Quader, Raushan Ershad, and Anisul Islam Mahmud further weakened the organization.

The collapse of Japa, once a major political force in northern Bangladesh, signals a major realignment in the country’s opposition landscape, with Islamist and new parties gaining ground in its former strongholds.

The National Citizens Party (NCP), formed less than a year ago by youth leaders of the July uprising, made a surprising debut in Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election held on Thursday. Despite being a new entrant, the party contested 30 constituencies as part of an 11-party alliance and secured six seats, emerging as the third-largest political force after the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. NCP’s winning candidates include Nahid Islam in Dhaka-11, Akhtar Hossain in Rangpur-4, Hasnat Abdullah in Cumilla-4, Abdul Hannan Masud in Noakhali-6, Dr. Atik Mujahid in Kurigram-2, and Abdullah Al-Amin in Narayanganj-4.

According to unofficial results, NCP candidates achieved narrow to decisive victories, with margins ranging from a few thousand to over one hundred thousand votes. In several other constituencies, NCP contenders finished second with close margins, reflecting significant voter support for the new party. NCP spokesperson Asif Mahmud Sajib Bhuiyan alleged attempts to tamper with results in some areas during a late-night press briefing.

The NCP originated from the 2024 anti-discrimination movement and formally launched on 28 February 2025, joining the 11-party alliance shortly before the election.

In Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election, Jamaat-e-Islami, leading an 11-party alliance, fielded candidates in 224 constituencies and won 68 seats. According to the party’s election management committee member Dr. Zobaer Ahmad, alliance candidates lost in 53 constituencies by margins of fewer than 10,000 votes. He stated that if these seats had been won, the alliance’s total could have reached around 120. Jamaat leaders plan to file complaints with the Election Commission regarding alleged irregularities.

Party representatives alleged widespread vote rigging by rival candidates, claiming that fake votes were cast across multiple polling centers. Specific examples include Jamaat Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar losing in Khulna-5 by 2,608 votes, and other close defeats in Dhaka, Pirojpur, Dinajpur, and Mymensingh constituencies. The alliance is reviewing official results and has already submitted several complaints to the Election Commission.

Several defeated candidates have demanded suspension of the announced results and a recount in affected constituencies, citing discrepancies found during their review of center-wise results.

Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary election, held after what the report describes as years of authoritarian rule, allowed citizens to exercise their voting rights freely. According to unofficial results available until Friday, many first-time and lesser-known candidates won, while several high-profile and veteran politicians suffered defeats across multiple constituencies.

Among the most notable outcomes were the losses of three senior leaders of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami: Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar, Assistant Secretary General AHM Hamidur Rahman Azad, and Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Shishir Monir. Each was defeated by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) candidates in their respective constituencies. Other prominent figures who lost include BNP’s Harunur Rashid Harun, football captain Aminul Haque, and Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s senior leader Syed Fazlul Karim. Some candidates even lost their deposits.

The election marked a shift from previous years’ uncontested or manipulated polls, as described in the report. It reflected a restoration of voter participation and competition, with results showing both major and smaller parties facing mixed outcomes across the country.

BNP candidate Mostafizur Rahman Babul, who won the Jamalpur-3 (Melandah-Madarganj) constituency election, visited the home of his defeated rival, Jamaat candidate Maulana Mojibur Rahman Azadi, on Friday afternoon in Adipait village of Melandah municipality. Carrying sweets, Mostafizur exchanged greetings with Azadi, and the two embraced to share the joy of the election outcome. The BNP winner personally offered sweets to his opponent, who in turn congratulated him and pledged cooperation in local development efforts.

The cordial meeting between the two political rivals, marked by mutual respect and symbolic gestures, quickly spread across social media and drew widespread praise. Local voters viewed the encounter as a rare example of positive politics, emphasizing the importance of such conduct in maintaining post-election peace and strengthening democratic culture.

Observers in the area described the event as a bright example of social unity and democratic values, noting that such cooperation among political opponents sends a constructive message to the community.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, has achieved a landslide victory in Bangladesh’s general election. Indian media outlets have been analyzing the outcome, describing it as a temporary relief for India and favorable to its national interests. Reports from India Today, NDTV, The Hindu, News18, and Firstpost highlighted that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promptly congratulated Tarique Rahman, calling the gesture significant for bilateral ties. Analysts noted that India sees no better option than working with Bangladesh’s new government.

Coverage emphasized that Tarique Rahman’s policy toward India remains a key question, given that his mother Khaleda Zia’s India policy was once viewed as troubling for New Delhi. Indian outlets described Tarique as more liberal than Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, whose rise would have worried India. Reports also discussed India’s concerns over alleged persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh and its expectation to raise the issue with the new government.

Several Indian reports suggested that Tarique Rahman’s leadership could restore strained Dhaka–Delhi relations and potentially open a new chapter in trade and cooperation between the two neighbors.

Bangladesh marks the first day of spring, known as Pahela Falgun, on February 14, 2026, with nationwide celebrations. The National Spring Festival Celebration Council is organizing the main event at the Liberation War Museum’s open grounds in Agargaon. The festival begins at 7:30 a.m. with instrumental and vocal performances by students of Bengal Parampara Sangeetalay, followed by group and solo music, dance, recitations, and cultural exchanges. Various renowned cultural organizations and artists are participating in the event.

This year’s Pahela Falgun coincides with Valentine’s Day, creating a dual celebration across the country. Citizens are also observing Anti-Autocracy Resistance Day, commemorating the 1983 student movement against the Majid Khan Commission’s education policy. The festive atmosphere is further influenced by the recent national election and referendum results. However, the annual Ekushey Book Fair has been postponed due to the election, reducing one traditional element of springtime festivities.

Historians note that Valentine’s Day originated from ancient Roman traditions and the martyrdom of Saint Valentine in 270 AD, whose legacy inspired the global observance of the day of love.

ATM Azharul Islam, Nayeb-e-Ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami, has been elected as a Member of Parliament from Rangpur-2 in the 13th national election held last Thursday. He secured 135,556 votes, defeating BNP candidate Mohammad Ali Sarkar by a margin of over 55,000 votes. His victory follows his release from prison nine months earlier, after spending more than a decade under a death sentence in a condemned cell.

Azharul Islam was arrested in August 2012 on charges of alleged war crimes and sentenced to death by the International Crimes Tribunal in December 2014. The verdict was upheld in 2019, but following the fall of the previous government, the Supreme Court acquitted him on May 27 of the previous year. He was released the next day after nearly 13 years in custody.

Following his election win, local supporters and party activists gathered at his residence to congratulate him. Azharul Islam expressed gratitude to voters and pledged to work for the development of Badarganj and Taraganj, emphasizing unity and service to all constituents regardless of political affiliation.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has claimed victory in more than two-thirds of the constituencies in the country’s 13th parliamentary election, held last Thursday. BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan announced the claim at a press briefing at the Election Commission office on Friday, saying unofficial results confirmed the party’s lead. He stated that the people had entrusted BNP and its chairman Tarique Rahman with governing the country for the next five years. Khan also noted that while complete satisfaction with the election process was impossible, the level of violence was lower than in previous polls.

BNP’s central election spokesperson Mahdi Amin described the result as a “victory for democracy,” asserting that the party’s success reflected the people’s trust in Tarique Rahman’s leadership. According to unofficial results, BNP won 209 of 299 seats, while Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68. Smaller allies in the BNP-led coalition, including Bangladesh National Party, Ganosamhati Andolon, and Gana Odhikar Parishad, each won one seat. Independent candidates won seven seats.

Amin said the new BNP government would aim to establish a transparent, accountable, and people-oriented administration.

Newly elected Member of Parliament for Rangpur-4, Akhtar Hossain, alleged that the defeated opposition behaved irrationally after losing the election. Speaking to journalists at his home in Pirgacha on February 13, he claimed that during voting and counting, his party agents were barred from several centers in Haragachh, and supporters were assaulted outside. He also accused BNP activists of attacking his workers and vandalizing campaign setups at multiple locations.

Hossain dismissed BNP candidate Emdadul Haque Bhorsa’s allegations of vote rigging as baseless and challenged him to provide proof. He further claimed that BNP activists themselves damaged Bhorsa’s car to frame his party. Hossain alleged that post-election violence continued, with attacks on NCP activists in Haragachh leaving four injured and several motorcycles destroyed. He urged authorities to arrest those responsible and called for legal action against rival candidates accused of vandalism.

According to election sources cited in the report, Hossain received 147,947 votes, while his closest rival Bhorsa secured 139,616 votes across 163 polling centers.

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has strongly condemned and protested against alleged attacks and arson carried out by BNP activists on opposition supporters, their homes, and businesses in various parts of the country following the national election. In a joint statement issued on Friday night, Shibir’s central president Nurul Islam and secretary general Sibgatullah expressed deep concern over the incidents.

The statement claimed that the 13th National Parliament election was completed through manipulation and vote engineering, leading to a tense and fearful atmosphere nationwide. It alleged that BNP and its affiliated organizations were attacking dissenters, including Shibir activists, in districts such as Jhenaidah, Kushtia, Bagerhat, Rangpur, Panchagarh, Dinajpur, Feni, and Chattogram. The group said around a hundred activists had been injured, and that homes, shops, and educational institutions were being targeted.

Shibir leaders urged newly elected representatives and political leaders to act responsibly, ensure citizens’ safety, and stop political violence. They warned that if the attacks continued, Shibir would organize mass resistance, and called on the interim government and law enforcement agencies to bring the perpetrators to justice.

BNP candidates have secured sweeping victories in all six parliamentary constituencies of Barishal, according to unofficial results announced by Returning Officer and District Commissioner Khairul Alam Suman at 3:30 a.m. on Thursday. The results show BNP’s ‘sheaf of paddy’ symbol candidates winning decisively across Barishal-1 through Barishal-6, with vote margins ranging from over 18,000 to more than 67,000. The announcement was made in the presence of the winning candidates, and party activists celebrated the outcome.

The election was conducted peacefully, with the returning officer expressing regret for the delay in result publication, citing the time needed to compile data from all six constituencies. BNP leaders described the outcome as a victory for democracy and the people, reaffirming Barishal as a BNP stronghold. Key winners include Zahid Uddin Swapan in Barishal-1, Sardar Sarfuddin Ahmed Santu in Barishal-2, and Mujibur Rahman Sarwar in Barishal-5.

BNP’s central organizing secretary Bilkis Akter Jahan Shirin said the results demonstrated the people’s renewed confidence in the party’s regional leadership and democratic process.