The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by the once-exiled Tariq Rahman, won a landslide victory when a student revolt in Dhaka went to the polls for the first time since the toppling of the Sheikh Hasina government. This information was revealed in a Dhaka-based news release Daily Starthe BNP and its allies secured a two-thirds majority.
Almost all Bangladesh-based newspapers celebrated the BNP’s victory on the front page, but more importantly, a peaceful election (source).Also Read | ‘India will…’: PM Modi’s message to Tariq Rahman after BNP’s landslide victory in Bangladesh
With this absolute victory, BNP returned to the government after 20 years. Last in power was under Khaleda Zia, Tareq’s mother who died recently. The BNP thus returned to office with Zia’s son Tariq Rahman, likely to become the next Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
Media outlets and newspapers across Bangladesh covered BNP’s strong lead in the election. However, elections of a peaceful nature received more coverage.
Here’s how the Bangladeshi media covered the election:
Daily StarThe front page of Bangladesh’s leading English daily said on Friday morning that the BNP is headed for a big victory. The counting of votes began on February 12 and continued till the next day. As the counting of votes ended on Friday afternoon, the Daily Star website also covered BNP’s historic comeback after 20 years and the conduct of peaceful elections.
Despite the crude bomb blast in Gopalganj and allegations of rigging, Bangladeshi dailies viewed the 13th national election positively.
Bangladesh PostThe front page of Friday’s Bangladesh Post said the elections were held in a ‘celebratory mood’ across the country.
Dhaka TribuneOn Friday morning, Dhaka Tribune’s front page said that BNP has won an absolute majority in the national elections. Other stories across the publication covered the decline in polling violence.
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Prothom HelloDhaka’s leading Bengali newspaper, Prothom Helloled by BNP’s victory. As counting continued across stations, the front page published said the election was in favor of Tariq Rahman and BNP.
Other stories also reflected the “peaceful” and “unhindered” nature of the vote.
Daily ObserverThis Dhaka daily also called the election on behalf of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, highlighting that Tariq Rahman would be the country’s first male prime minister since 1991.
According to the latest count at around 4 pm, BNP and its allies have so far won a total of 213 seats out of 300 seats. The Islamist party Jamaat-e-Islami and Mitra is the second largest party with 77 seats.
