Anjali Kaur
Bangladesh’s February 12, 2026, election has resolved one question: who will be responsible for governing Bangladesh next. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its allies have won a decisive majority, securing 211 of 299 constituency seats according to provisional results. BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, who won both constituencies he contested, will form the next government. But the harder question remains: whether the political system can now actually deliver stability, legitimacy, and tangible improvements in daily life. As with most elections held under strain, the real test begins after ballots are cast.
Tarique Rahman faces the dual challenge of consolidating authority within his own coalition while signaling restraint beyond it. Having spent nearly 17 years in exile and outside formal executive office, his early governing posture—toward institutions, security forces, minorities, and political rivals—will shape whether this transition is perceived as a reset or as the beginning of another cycle of confrontation. His immediate call for supporters to refrain from victory rallies and instead offer nationwide prayers signals awareness of this fragility. But winning an election is different from earning public trust, reducing polarization, or stabilizing people’s daily lives. In Bangladesh’s case, those challenges remain acute.
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