BNP to form Bangladesh government by Sunday after landslide election win

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party has declared its intention to form a new government by Sunday, capitalizing on a resounding electoral mandate in the first general election since the 2024 popular uprising. Party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced Friday that the BNP will lead the administration, telling reporters in Thakurgaon district: "It will be the BNP's government. The government will be formed by Feb. 15. The BNP will go to parliament with all parties."

Landslide Victory and Parliamentary Math

Thursday's election delivered the BNP 209 seats in the 300-member parliament, well exceeding the 151-seat constitutional threshold required to form a government. The Jamaat-e-Islami-led bloc secured 77 seats, establishing the BNP's dominant parliamentary position. Alamgir indicated the party would implement reforms outlined in the "July Charter" on a phased basis, signaling continuity with the movement that toppled the Awami League government.

Leadership Transition and Khaleda Zia's Legacy

Tarique Rahman, who assumed party leadership following the December death of his mother and former prime minister Khaleda Zia—Bangladesh's first female premier—is widely expected to become the next prime minister. The election marked the first national vote since the Awami League, which had governed for 15 years under ousted leader Sheikh Hasina, was barred from participation. Hasina fled to India during the July 2024 protests that claimed approximately 1,400 lives. The BNP's return to power represents a fundamental realignment of Bangladesh's political landscape.