The Bangladesh Nationalist Celebration (BNP), after 20-years, is ready to stake declare to kind authorities in Bangladesh by successful 212 of 300 seats in Bangladesh normal elections. Tarique Rahman, son of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, is poised to change into Bangladesh’s prime minister, revealed senior politicians in BNP.
Mr. Rahman gained in full majority from Dhaka-17, and Bogura-6, a BNP stronghold.
Bangladesh election outcomes LIVE: BNP wins sweeping election majority, promise of stability
BNP’s origin
The BNP was shaped in 1978 by Ziaur Rahman, the voice that declared Bangladesh’s independence over radio on behalf of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman after the Pakistani navy launched Operation Searchlight.
After the 1971 Battle of Independence, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman turned the Prime Minister and within the coming years, introduced in a constitutional modification making him the “unimpeachable” President. The Bangabandhu and most of his relations had been brutally gunned down on August 15, 1975 after a navy coup. Military chief Brigadier Khalid Musharaf took over the regime and Ziaur Rahman was his deputy.
Ziaur Rahman’s position as a Deputy Military Chief marked turbulent interval in Bangladesh. He step by step consolidated energy and have become President in 1977. Shortly after assuming presidency, he held a nationwide referendum to help his position.
On September 1, 1978, Ziaur Rahman launched BNP as a celebration of “freedom fighters from the battlefield”, eager to advertise a mix distinctive Bangladeshi id and Bengali nationalism. He inducted politicians from Muslim league and leaders which had been against Awami League.
In 1979, BNP marked its first election victory, successful 207 of 300 seats. Nonetheless, this was short-lived. On Could 30, 1981, in a navy coup, Ziaur Rahman was assassinated in Chittagong. Later, navy ruler Hussain Muhammad Ershad seized energy in 1982, sidelining BNP and different events.
Rise of Khaleda Zia
Following Ziaur Rahman’s loss of life, his spouse Khaleda Zia turned an id of resistance towards the navy ruler and President Ershad. Her position from a widow to an unifying determine of BNP, quickly resonated with the lots in Bangladesh. This mass rebellion towards Ershad marked a part of hope for democratic rule in Bangladesh. The huge protests, fuelled by anger of scholars and communities throughout the nation, Ershad to resign.
Ultimately, BNP contested and gained 1991 normal elections, registering a victory in 140 of 300 seats. Khaleda Zia Bangladesh’s first lady Prime Minister with the help of allies. Persevering with her successful streak, BNP gained 2001 elections by clinching victory in 193 of 300 seats.
Khaleda Zia went on function Prime Minister of Bangladesh for 10 years from 1991 to 1996 and 2001 to 2006.
The autumn of Zia, rise of Hasina
After the five-year time period of the Bangladesh Nationalist Celebration (BNP) got here to an finish in October 2006, the occasion was anticipated to switch energy to a non-party caretaker authorities. The caretaker authorities would have seen conduct of elections inside 90 days.
After an exhaustive course of, President Iajuddin Ahmed took up the position of Chief Adviser. The opposition Awami League accused him of favouring the BNP. This went bitter with Awami League Celebration, led by Sheikh Hasina – daughter of Mijibur Rahman – and its allies accusing the BNP of manipulating the voter rolls with hundreds of thousands of faux namesand rigging the 2007 elections. This escalated right into a full-scale mayhem into the streets. A whole lot of political supporters engaged in a violent scuffle, resulting in imposition of curfew in few areas.
Additionally Learn | Bangladesh elections: BNP guarantees to finish ‘border killings’ by BSF, seeks fair proportion of cross border rivers
Following a political impasse, a state of emergency was declared and President Iajuddin banned the elections.
After almost two years underneath emergency rule, the Awami League Celebration swept the December 2008 elections, and abolished the system of caretaker authorities.
Turbulent occasions for BNP
After Ms. Hasina’s take over because the Prime Minister, BNP’s high management confronted arrests and the occasion’s actions had been restricted. This hampered BNP’s prospects to contest elections. Regardless of such, the most important setback to the occasion was restriction to carry political rallies and publicise something in media.
Additionally Learn | Grassroots employees of Awami League blame high Ministers, former Normal Secretary for downfall of occasion
Zia was jailed for corruption and her son Mr. Tarique Rahman went into exile. The BNP, nevertheless, continued to be a significant opposition occasion of the nation. It managed to win 7 seats within the 2018 elections when Zia was nonetheless in jail.
The BNP boycotted the 2024 elections because the Awami League authorities refused at hand over governance to a caretaker authorities. Ms. Hasina shaped the federal government once more, which was ousted in a couple of months in a mass rebellion additionally supported by the BNP.
Zia was out of jail after the rebellion giving contemporary lease of life to the occasion. Ultimately Tarique Rahman too returned days earlier than his mom handed away.
Who’re BNP’s allies in Bangladesh?
For 2026 Bangladesh Normal Elections, BNP contested for 292 seats out of the 300, leaving the remaining seats for its coalition companions. Not like Jammat-e-Islami, the BNP didn’t enter right into a pact with its allies, however its entrance included a gaggle of seven smaller political events.
BNP’s views in the direction of India
BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, in an interview with Instances, mentioned guarding the pursuits of Bangladeshi folks comes first. “Later, we’ll attempt to take relations additional”, he added.
Rahman’s stance on India assumes a lot significance since India-Bangladesh ties took a backseat lately on account of a spate of violences towards minority Hindus.
Nonetheless, on a constructive observe, Indian Excessive Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma on Saturday (January 10, 2026) met BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, a day after the occasion formally elected him to the place forward of the scheduled February 12 elections.
“The assembly lasted for some 40 minutes,” Bangladesh Nationalist Celebration (BNP) media cell spokesman Sayrul Kabir Khan informed PTI, calling it a courtesy name.
Revealed – February 13, 2026 02:57 pm IST