Tarique Rahman's Resounding Victory in Bangladesh Polls: A Crown of Thorns

• Bangladesh held its 13th Parliamentary Election on February 12, 2026, with 127.71 million eligible voters and a 60.69% turnout.
• The election followed Sheikh Hasina's 2024 ouster due to student-led protests over job quotas and alleged authoritarianism.
• The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, emerged as the frontrunner after boycotting previous elections.
• Tarique Rahman returned from exile to lead the BNP, which secured 209 seats in the 297 declared, leading a coalition to 212 seats.
• The election was notable for the absence of both Khaleda Zia (deceased) and Sheikh Hasina (exiled), marking a new political era.