Bangladesh's Tarique Rahman poised to become PM as Islamists concede defeat
France 24
by FRANCE 24February 14, 2026
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Bangladesh's political landscape has shifted dramatically as Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a landslide victory in the recent elections. The country's largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, conceded defeat despite earlier allegations of irregularities in the vote count. This move paves the way for Rahman, who has been in self-imposed exile in Britain for 17 years, to become prime minister. The BNP won a decisive 212 seats compared to the Jamaat-led alliance's 77, marking a significant turnaround for Rahman and his party.
Rahman, 60, is the scion of one of Bangladesh's most influential political families. His father, Ziaur Rahman, was assassinated in 1981, and his mother, Khaleda Zia, served as prime minister three times. After returning to Bangladesh in December last year, Rahman has positioned himself as a key figure in the post-Hasina era. The elections followed a deadly 2024 uprising that ended the long-standing rule of Sheikh Hasina's Awami League party, which was barred from participating in these polls.
The international community has reacted positively to the results. The US embassy congratulated Rahman on his "historic victory," while neighboring India praised the BNP's decisive win—a notable shift after years of strained relations. China and Pakistan also extended congratulations, reflecting their growing ties with Bangladesh since the 2024 uprising. Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel laureate who led the country as interim leader post-uprising, expressed confidence that Rahman would guide Bangladesh toward stability and development.
The elections also saw voters approve a
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Originally published on France 24 on 2/14/2026