BNP's Dramatic Comeback: From Decline to Sweeping Victory in Bangladesh's 2026 Polls

• The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) achieved a sweeping victory in Bangladesh's 2026 national elections, marking a dramatic political comeback.
• Founded on September 1, 1978, by President Ziaur Rahman, BNP's ideology is rooted in "Bangladeshi nationalism."
• After Ziaur Rahman's assassination, Khaleda Zia led the party, becoming Prime Minister in 1991 and establishing BNP as a dominant force.
• BNP faced a period of decline after 2008, with Khaleda Zia's imprisonment and Tarique Rahman leading from exile.
• The 2026 resurgence was fueled by intensified grassroots mobilization, a pragmatic approach by Tarique Rahman, and capitalizing on voter fatigue with single-party rule.