As voters across the country head to polling stations on Thursday for the 13th National Parliamentary Election, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has expressed strong confidence of securing a decisive mandate, citing what it describes as an unprecedented wave of public support during the campaign.
After weeks of rallies, street meetings and grassroots outreach across the capital and throughout divisional cities, districts and upazilas, BNP leaders say the enthusiasm they encountered has reinforced their expectation of a “landslide victory.”
Speaking at campaign events nationwide, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman described the election as pivotal to the country’s political future.
In an interview with Deutsche Welle on Tuesday, he said: “We are confident that we will have enough seats to form the government.”
On the eve of the polls, Saleh Shibly, press secretary to the BNP chairman, told Dhaka Tribune on behalf of Tarique Rahman: “People across the country are eagerly waiting to cast their votes. The election will be held in a festive atmosphere. If the election is free and fair, the BNP will win by a large margin and form the government. We are 100% optimistic about victory.”
Senior party leaders have expressed hope that the BNP could secure up to two-thirds of the 300 parliamentary seats, which they say would mark “a new beginning” for the country.
At the same time, Tarique Rahman has cautioned party leaders and activists about alleged conspiracies surrounding the election and instructed them to remain present at polling centres from the start of voting until the announcement of results to ensure transparency.
BNP candidates are contesting in 292 constituencies under the party’s electoral symbol, the sheaf of paddy.
Among them, 85 candidates have previously served as Members of Parliament, while 19 have held ministerial responsibilities in past governments.
According to sources in the party’s election management committee, last-minute organizational preparations have been completed.
These include centre-based coordination, appointment of polling agents and arrangements to assist voters in reaching polling stations.
Party leaders say they are closely monitoring the law-and-order situation and the voting process, while urging the relevant authorities to ensure a free, fair and impartial election.
Mahdi Amin, spokesperson of the BNP’s election management committee and adviser to the party chairman, said: “A wave of public support has been created across the country in favour of the BNP. People from different classes, professions, religions and communities have spontaneously expressed their support for the party. The festive atmosphere among voters reflects the aspirations of the people.”
He also alleged that certain groups were attempting to create obstacles to hinder the BNP’s potential victory.
Referring to the detention of a political leader at Saidpur Airport with a large sum of money, Mahdi said there were attempts to influence the vote through illegal financial transactions ahead of the election.
“The culture of buying votes with money in violation of the electoral code of conduct is a threat to democracy,” he said.
Emphasizing the importance of preventing fraud at polling centres, he added that voter identification must be verified in accordance with electoral rules to ensure that no one casts a ballot under a false identity.
Party leaders further claim that many citizens who had been unable to exercise their voting rights in previous elections are determined to participate this time.
The BNP says young voters, first-time voters and members of the middle class are showing strong support for the party and could play a decisive role in the outcome.
With polling underway on Thursday, the BNP leadership says it remains hopeful that the electorate will translate what it describes as widespread enthusiasm into a clear mandate at the ballot box.