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BNP Leads Bangladesh Polls as Tarique Rahman Wins Bogura Seat

Unofficial results show Tarique Rahman's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in a strong lead as vote counting continues. Rahman has secured a decisive victory in the Bogura-6 constituency. The election marks a pivotal shift from the classic 'Battle of Begums' era following Khaleda Zia's death and the Awami League's ban. Meanwhile, an alliance-backed candidate has alleged ballot design irregularities leading to cancelled votes.

Key Points: BNP Leads Bangladesh Election, Tarique Rahman Wins Constituency

  • BNP leads unofficial results
  • Tarique Rahman wins Bogura-6
  • Jamaat-e-Islami to respect outcome
  • Allegations of ballot irregularities in Dhaka-13
2 min read

Bangladesh: BNP closes exile, leads unofficial poll results

Unofficial results show Tarique Rahman's BNP leading in Bangladesh's landmark election. Vote counting continues amid allegations of irregularities.

"will respect the results of the election, whatever they may be - Shafiqur Rahman"

Dhaka, February 13

Unofficial results on Friday show Tarique Rahman's Bangladesh Nationalist Party in a strong lead as Bangladesh continues to count votes after its landmark election on Thursday.

Rahman has been unofficially declared elected from the Bogura-6 (Sadar) constituency after securing a decisive victory over his nearest rival, as per Daily Star.

According to results announced by the office of the District Returning Officer and Deputy Commissioner Md Taufiqur Rahman, tallies from 150 polling centres have been completed. The constituency has a total of 151 voting centres, including postal ballots.

Official results have not yet been delivered by the Bangladesh Election Commission, which is expected to issue its announcement on Friday.

Shafiqur Rahman, head of Jamaat-e-Islami, said his party will respect the results of the election, whatever they may be, and that it will not engage in obstructive "politics of opposition" should it lose.

Parliament comprises 350 lawmakers, 300 of whom are elected directly from single-member constituencies, while an additional 50 seats are reserved for women, as per Al Jazeera. Elections were held for 299 seats due to the death of one candidate.

A referendum was also held on political reforms, including prime ministerial term limits, stronger checks on executive power, and other safeguards to prevent parliamentary power consolidation, as per Al Jazeera.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis Ameer Maulana Mamunul Haque, who is the Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party alliance-backed candidate, has alleged irregularities in the ballot counting process in Dhaka-13, claiming that a flawed ballot design led to the cancellation of thousands of votes cast in his favour, as per Al Jazeera.

Bangladesh ushered in its most pivotal polls as it seeks to enter into a new chapter from the classic 'Battle of Begums' era on Thursday. This election feels heavy after the demise of Former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and the ban on her nemesis, Sheikh Hasina's party, the Awami League.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Interesting to see the referendum on term limits and checks on power. That's something we in India could also benefit from discussing more seriously. Absolute power for too long isn't healthy for any democracy.
R
Rohit P
Allegations of irregularities in counting are concerning. A strong, stable, and legitimate government in Dhaka is crucial for us. Hope the Election Commission addresses these claims transparently. The last thing the region needs is political unrest.
S
Sarah B
Respect to Shafiqur Rahman for saying his party will respect the results and not engage in obstructive politics. That's a mature democratic stance we don't see often enough. Hope the new leadership focuses on development and good relations with India.
V
Vikram M
The article mentions Tarique Rahman was in exile? Coming back to win is quite a story. As an Indian, my main hope is that the new government continues the cooperation on security and manages the Rohingya refugee situation with international support.
K
Karthik V
While we wish our Bangladeshi brothers and sisters well, we must be cautious. A strong lead for BNP might change dynamics. India has invested heavily in relations with the previous government. Hope the strategic partnership remains a priority for Dhaka.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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