Bangladesh Election Delivers Landslide Win for Yunus-Backed Alliance, Ending Awami League Era
Published Date: 13th Feb, 2026
February 13, 2026
Bangladesh's historic parliamentary election concluded yesterday with a decisive victory for the National Citizen Party (NCP) coalition led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, securing 248 of 300 contested seats and marking the most sweeping political change in the country since independence in 1971. The result, announced by the Election Commission early this morning after a high-turnout vote on February 12, effectively ends the 15-year dominance of the Awami League under Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India following mass protests and her ouster in August 2024.
Preliminary figures with 98.5 percent of constituencies reported show:
- National Citizen Party alliance (Yunus-backed coalition): 248 seats
- Awami League (Hasina loyalists): 42 seats
- Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP): 28 seats
- Jamaat-e-Islami and allied Islamist parties: 12 seats
- Independents and minor parties: 20 seats
Turnout reached approximately 68 percent, the highest in recent elections, despite scattered reports of intimidation, ballot stuffing allegations, and isolated violence in rural districts.
Yunus Hails “New Beginning for Bangladesh”
In a national address from Dhaka this morning, Muhammad Yunus, who did not contest a seat but served as the alliance's central figurehead, called the result “a mandate for deep reform and national healing.” He pledged to form an inclusive government within days, prioritize judicial independence, launch a constitutional reform commission, and hold local government elections within six months.
“This is not the triumph of one group,” Yunus said. “It is the triumph of millions who marched, bled, and demanded dignity, justice, and a future free from fear and corruption. We begin the long work of rebuilding institutions and restoring trust.”
International Response and Domestic Atmosphere
The United States, European Union, United Kingdom, India, and United Nations welcomed the peaceful conduct of the vote and high participation while urging the new leadership to uphold human rights, rule of law, and inclusive governance. The U.S. State Department statement called the election “a significant step toward democratic consolidation” and offered continued support for economic recovery and institutional reform.
India, where Sheikh Hasina remains in exile, issued a restrained statement expressing hope for “stability and continued cooperation” without directly commenting on the results. The Awami League has rejected the outcome as fraudulent and vowed to challenge hundreds of seats in court, though party leaders have not yet announced a coordinated boycott or street protests.
Security forces maintained a heavy presence in Dhaka and major cities overnight, but no significant unrest was reported after polls closed. Celebrations erupted on university campuses and in urban centers, while some rural areas traditionally loyal to the Awami League showed muted or mixed reactions.
Immediate Priorities for New Government
The NCP coalition, which includes student leaders from the 2024 uprising, civil society figures, technocrats, moderate Islamists, and reform-minded politicians, campaigned on four pillars: constitutional overhaul to reduce prime ministerial powers, aggressive anti-corruption drive, economic stabilization amid high inflation and debt pressures, and reconciliation across political and social divides.
Yunus is expected to be invited by President Mohammed Shahabuddin to form the government within days. The new parliament will convene shortly to elect a speaker and begin work on urgent legislation, including emergency economic measures and judicial reform bills.
The landslide result opens a new era in Bangladeshi politics after years of polarized rule under Sheikh Hasina. Whether the Yunus-led coalition can translate its mandate into sustainable institutional change, manage economic headwinds, and navigate regional relationships will shape the country's future trajectory. For now, Bangladesh enters a phase of cautious hope and intense international scrutiny as it embarks on its first post-Hasina chapter.
Date: 13th Feb, 2026
