The Muslim Brotherhood loses in its Asian stronghold: the National Party sweeps Bangladesh elections
The Bangladesh National Party secured a sweeping victory in the first elections held after the uprising that toppled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by Tarique Rahman, announced a landslide victory. Earlier projections by television channels indicated that the party had surpassed the 150-seat threshold, ensuring a parliamentary majority.
Preliminary results suggested that its main rival, the Islamist coalition led by Jamaat-e-Islami, would win only around 70 seats.
Salahuddin Ahmed stated: “The victory was expected. It is not surprising that the people of Bangladesh have placed their trust in a party committed to Bangladesh (…) and capable of fulfilling the aspirations expressed by our youth during the unrest.”
In a message posted on social media by the US Embassy in Dhaka, the United States congratulated the Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Tarique Rahman on the “historic victory” and expressed its readiness to work with them “to achieve goals of prosperity and security.”
Mehdi Amin, spokesperson for the party’s election commission, told journalists that the party was heading toward winning at least two-thirds of the seats.
He added: “With strong popular support, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party will secure a two-thirds majority and form the government,” noting that party leader Tarique Rahman had won “both seats” he contested.
In a statement, the party confirmed it had achieved a “major victory” and urged its local officials not to hold street celebrations.
For its part, the country’s largest Islamist party said on Friday that it had “serious concerns about the integrity of the election results” in which its rival, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party led by Tarique Rahman, claimed an outright majority.
Jamaat-e-Islami stated: “We are not satisfied with the process surrounding the election results,” denouncing “repeated inconsistencies or manipulations in the announcement of preliminary results,” which “raise serious questions about the integrity” of the process.
Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh is ideologically and organizationally linked to the Muslim Brotherhood and is represented within the movement’s international organization.
Bangladesh has often been cited as a refuge for Muslim Brotherhood leaders facing legal cases in their home countries.
In recent months, the Muslim Brotherhood has suffered significant setbacks, notably the designation by the United States of some of its branches as terrorist organizations, as well as reviews launched by European countries that could result in the group being added to terrorist lists.
