Bangladesh Election 2026 Live Updates: Vote counting is underway across Bangladesh’s 42,651 polling centers after polls closed at 4.30 pm on Thursday (February 12), covering 299 of 300 parliamentary constituencies. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Tarique Rahman has secured huge victories in both of his constituencies, and his party is taking a strong lead in around 175 seats.
Election Commission data shows a 47.91% turnout from 36,031 centers, rising from 32.88% at noon, reflecting strong voter participation despite some challenges. Polling faced isolated incidents, including a hand bomb in Gopalganj that injured a 13-year-old girl and two Ansar guards, a 15-minute disruption in Munshiganj from crude blasts, and a fatal clash in Khulna that killed BNP’s Mohibuzzaman Kochi. However, no full suspensions of voting were reported.
Early voters included prominent leaders such as Muhammad Yunus, Tarique Rahman, and Shafiqur Rahman, who cast their ballots in Dhaka from 6 am onwards. Meanwhile, exiled former prime minister Sheikh Hasina criticised the polls as a “farcical” and “voter-less” exercise, citing alleged low turnout and ballot-stuffing issues.
The evolving numbers indicate that the BNP has widened its advantage as counting progresses across constituencies. Further updates are awaited as official confirmations continue to come in from the Election Commission.
BNP Crosses 100 Seats as Election Results Keep Rolling In
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has crossed the 100-seat mark in the 13th national election, securing 107 seats out of 139 results announced so far. This shows a strong lead for the party as counting continues across the country.
Jamaat-e-Islami has also increased its tally, winning 28 seats, while other parties and independents have taken just four seats combined.
BNP Leads As Vote Counting Continues Across Bangladesh
Vote counting is underway across Bangladesh, with BNP taking a strong lead in many constituencies. Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Tarique Rahman has won both of his seats, Dhaka‑17 and Bogura‑6. Latest trends show that the BNP is closing in on the halfway mark in the 13th national election, with the party now leading in 82 seats. Results have been announced for 102 constituencies so far.
Jamaat-e-Islami has secured 17 seats, while other parties and independents have won just three seats combined.
No Victory Rally For For BNP?
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won the 13th national election, but the party leadership has asked supporters to show restraint instead of holding public celebrations.
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has instructed leaders and activists at all levels to offer special prayers across the country after Juma prayers. He said it is important to keep celebrations peaceful and spiritual rather than public.
Rahman also directed party leaders and supporters not to organize any victory rallies or gatherings anywhere in the country. The decision comes as the party focuses on nationwide prayers and maintaining calm during this period.
How Tarique Rahman Plans To Reshape Bangladesh’s Global Ties
Tarique Rahman says he wants to reshape Bangladesh’s relationships with other countries so the nation can attract more investment without relying too much on any single power. He said that this would mark a shift from former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who was often viewed as close to Delhi.
Rahman also spoke about giving more financial support to poor families and reducing the country’s heavy dependence on garment exports. He aims to promote new industries such as toys and leather goods to create broader economic opportunities. In addition, he proposes a two-term, 10-year limit for prime ministers to help prevent leaders from becoming too powerful.
What The Leaders Said
Rahman, the son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, is a central figure in the party’s campaign for the 2026 general elections. His victory comes amid ongoing counting across constituencies nationwide, where the BNP has emerged as a leading contender in early trends. Official confirmation from the Election Commission is awaited as counting progresses.
Hasina has rejected the general election, alleging that the exercise was neither free nor inclusive. In a statement, she described the vote as illegitimate and claimed that the process was conducted without the participation of her party, the Awami League.
Meanwhile, Yunus, who cast his vote in Dhaka’s Gulshan area, described the day as “the birthday of a new Bangladesh” and urged citizens to participate peacefully. The interim administration has maintained that the polls are being conducted under constitutional and legal frameworks.
Authorities recorded a 48 per cent voter turnout as counting began amid reports of sporadic violence and allegations of irregularities. The principal contest is between Tarique Rahman’s BNP-led alliance and a Jamaat-e-Islami-led coalition. A referendum on sweeping constitutional reforms was also held alongside the parliamentary vote.
Hasina alleged widespread irregularities, including intimidation of supporters, low voter turnout and irregular additions to voter rolls, particularly in Dhaka. Citing Election Commission data that showed turnout below 15 per cent by late morning, she said the figures reflected public rejection of the exercise.
The Awami League leader demanded cancellation of the polls, resignation of interim chief Muhammad Yunus, withdrawal of cases against party leaders and supporters, and fresh elections under a neutral caretaker government.
Meanwhile, Yunus described the day as “the birthday of a new Bangladesh” urging Bangladeshi citizens to participate peacefully. The interim administration has maintained that the polls are being conducted under constitutional and legal frameworks.
Polls Conclude With Showdown Between BNP And Jamaat-e-Islami
Polling stations across Bangladesh closed on schedule, bringing to an end a historic general election widely viewed as a turning point for the country’s political future. According to election officials, approximately 48 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballots in what is the first parliamentary contest since the fall of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government.
The contest has been framed as a direct political showdown between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, and a coalition spearheaded by the Jamaat-e-Islami, under the leadership of Shafiqur Rahman. The outcome is expected to redefine Bangladesh’s political trajectory after months of upheaval.
Ballot counting began shortly after polling ended, with election officials indicating that preliminary results could begin emerging overnight. Sporadic violence and allegations of cheating were reported in isolated constituencies, though authorities said the overall process remained largely orderly.
1,755 candidates, 50 political parties
A total of 1,755 candidates from 50 political parties and 273 independents contested the election. The BNP has fielded the highest number of 291 candidates. There are 83 female candidates. For the first time, nearly 8,00,000 expatriate Bangladeshis, who have registered with the poll body, will be able to vote through an IT-based postal ballot system. The 13th parliamentary elections are being held simultaneously along with a referendum on a complex 84-point reform package.
The contest was mainly between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its once ally Jamaat-e-Islami, in the absence of Hasina’s now-disbanded Awami League. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’ interim government last year disbanded the Awami League and barred it from contesting the polls.
Read More – Why Bangladesh’s Election Is Crucial for India | EXPLAINED
Chief Advisor Yunus, who has promised to quickly transfer power to the elected government, has urged the political parties, candidates and other concerned parties to maintain restraint, tolerance and democratic behaviour on the polling day.
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Muhammad Yunus, Tarique Rahman Cast Votes
Yunus cast his vote at 10:26 am at Gulshan Model High School and College in Dhaka. Speaking to reporters after voting, Yunus described the day as one of “great joy,” calling it “the birthday of the new Bangladesh.”
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has called upon all citizens to exercise their franchise by going to their respective polling stations and casting their votes for candidates of their choice. He voted at Gulshan Model High School and College in Gulshan-2 earlier today.
Meanwhile, there have been reports of overnight clashes in Bangladesh. Three persons have been arrested by police on allegations of distributing ballot paper photocopies among activists of a party at Kalai area of northwestern Joypurhat, Ittefaq newspaper reported.
The Daily Star reported “ballot stuffing allegations spark clash between Jamaat and BNP activists” in northeastern Sylhet’s Balaganj sub-district where a local Jamaat leader and several others entered a polling centre at around midnight when BNP activists rushed resulting in scuffles requiring security interventions. The BNP nominee there alleged ballot stamping had begun at 11:00pm with the presiding officer’s help.
Security Heightened Across Bangladesh
Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Machud said nearly 9,00,000 law enforcement personnel have been deployed to ensure security during the election. Authorities have deployed Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and Rapid Action Teams (RATs) across key areas of the capital. For the first time, drones and body-worn cameras are being used for election security.
The Bangladesh Police said that they have provided a list of risk-prone polling centres to the EC, which showed that out of 2,131 polling centres in Dhaka, 1,614 were risk-prone. However, the army said they have identified two centres in Dhaka city to be “risky”.
Ahead of the polling, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin had called upon the voters to cast their votes freely. He urged political parties, candidates, and voters to maintain a peaceful and cordial environment. He said that representatives from 45 countries and organisations, including election management bodies and international institutions, are observing the polls.
EC data showed that first-time voters made up some 3.58 per cent of the nearly 127 million voters.
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