Dhaka (AFP) - A coalition led by the Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh has filed appeals to annul the election results in about thirty constituencies, after suffering a crushing defeat Thursday at the hands of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party in the first legislative elections after the 2024 uprising.

Published on: 02/15/2026 - 11:09

According to the results published by the Electoral Commission, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party won 212 out of 300 seats in Parliament, while the Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies won only 77 seats.

Tariq Rahman (60 years old), head of the National Party and heir to an ancient political dynasty, is preparing to become the next prime minister.

After initially denouncing widespread "irregularities" and "rigging", JI leader Shafiq Rahman on Saturday backed away from the accusations and conceded defeat.

“We acknowledge the results and respect the rule of law,” he said in a message posted on social media.

But Hamidur Rahman Azad, a Jamaat-e-Islami leader, told the press on Sunday after filing appeals with the Electoral Commission: “We have identified 32 constituencies where our candidates were declared losers under suspicious circumstances.”

He added, "The elections started well, but the end was not what we expected. Forged ballot papers, bribes, threats, and attacks affected the atmosphere of the elections."

He added, "We will resort to the judiciary to correct the results."

The elected parliamentarians are expected to be sworn in on Tuesday, and Tariq Rahman will be tasked with forming the government.

More than 300,000 soldiers and police secured the ballot on Thursday, without major incidents, unlike most elections since the beginning of the century and despite the intense tension that marred the election campaign.

Two people were killed in political clashes, and violence broke out in several areas across Bangladesh, according to police. Local media also reported that a woman was raped “for voting for the wrong party.”

© 2026 AFP

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