Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has congratulated BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman following his party’s decisive victory in the 13th national parliamentary election.
Fakhrul presented Tarique with a flower bouquet at the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office on Friday afternoon.
According to unofficial results disclosed by the Election Commission on Friday afternoon for 297 constituencies, the BNP secured 209 parliamentary seats, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami won 68, positioning the BNP to form the next government after decades out of power.
Tarique Rahman won in both Dhaka‑17 and Bogra‑6 constituencies, BNP Media Cell member Shairul Kabir Khan said Thursday. Earlier, Tarique cast his vote at the Gulshan Model High School and College center in Dhaka around 9:30am., accompanied by his wife, Dr Zubaida Rahman, and daughter, Zaima Rahman. Speaking to journalists at the polling center, he urged voters to participate in large numbers, saying, “The people of Bangladesh have been waiting for this day for a long time. Today, the people have regained their rights.” He added that high voter turnout would help prevent any conspiracy and expressed hope that improving law-and-order would be a priority if elected.
Fakhrul was unofficially declared the winner in Thakurgaon‑1 (Sadar) with 236,308 votes, defeating Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Delwar Hossain, who received 138,936 votes. Following his win, Fakhrul addressed supporters in Kalibari, Thakurgaon, and in a Facebook post, expressed gratitude to the Almighty, party leaders, activists, people of all faiths and communities, and his family. He called the victory the culmination of a 17-year struggle, paying tribute to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War and the “July Martyrs,” and asked for public prayers to honor his commitments.
Following the election, Tarique Rahman instructed party leaders and activists at all levels not to hold any victory processions or rallies, and called for special prayers nationwide after Jummah prayer on Friday, according to BNP Press Secretary Saleh Shibli.
BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Advocate Ruhul Kabir Rizvi extended congratulations to the people of Bangladesh and sought prayers for eternal peace for the departed soul of former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia and for the wellbeing of the nation. People of other faiths were also requested to offer prayers in temples, churches, pagodas, and other places of worship.
Voting in Bangladesh’s national election concluded on Thursday in a largely peaceful atmosphere, with polling held from 7:30am. to 4:30pm. across 42,659 polling stations in 299 of 300 constituencies, amid deployment of nearly one million security personnel and another one million polling staff.
The BNP-led alliance dominated major districts and capital city constituencies, marking a historic political shift. International leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, extended congratulations to Tarique Rahman, recognizing the outcome as significant for Bangladesh’s democratic process.
Fakhrul said the party will work to honor the people’s mandate and pursue policies aimed at strengthening democratic values and national development.
