BNP to form government with absolute majority

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is going to form the government for the fourth time after a long 20 years, winning an absolute majority in the 13th national parliamentary election held on Thursday.

The Election Commission has announced the official results of 297 seats. BNP as a single party won 209 seats and its allies secured 3 more.

On the other hand, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats. In addition, the National Citizens Party got 6 seats and its allies achieved 3 more.

The Islamic Movement Bangladesh gained 1 seat while the Independents 7 seats, according to the Election Commission’s unofficial announcement yesterday.

It is to be noted that to form a government, a victory in at least 151 out of 300 parliamentary seats is required.

The BNP has fulfilled the constitutional conditions to form a government on its own. BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman would be the country’s next Prime Minister.

Tarique Rahman has won both Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 constituencies by a huge margin. This is his first time participating in the national elections.

Mentionable, the 13th National Parliament Election and the referendum on the implementation of the July Charter reform proposal were held in a peaceful and encouraging atmosphere on Thursday.

Although there were reports of some isolated irregularities and violence, there were no reports of major disruptions to the overall voting pattern.

For this, the government deserves appreciation for organizing a fair, peaceful and acceptable election for the nation.

The July mass uprising of 24 has created an opportunity for Bangladesh to return to democracy.

In brief, the BNP was founded by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman. Later, former Prime Minister and BNPChairperson Khaleda Zia took the party to the peak of popularity.

After leading the anti-dictatorship movement for nine years, she won the 1991 election and became the country’s first female prime minister.

Tarique Rahman returned to the country on November 25 last year, ending a long 17-year exile, and was included in the voter list on November 27.

His formal political journey began in 1988 as a member of the BNP in GabtoliUpazila of Bogura.

He was elected as the party’s Senior Joint Secretary General in 2002 and Senior Vice Chairman in 2009.

He took over as the acting chairman after Khaleda Zia was imprisoned in 2018.It is worth noting that Khaleda Zia passed away on December 30.

Then, on January 9, the party’s standing committee formally recognized Tarique Rahman as its chairman.

The people of the countryhope that the journey of transition to democracy that began with Thursday’s elections will continue. May this journey of democracy be strengthenedfurther overcoming everychallenges.