BNP Returns to Power: Assessing the Results and Implications of Bangladesh’s Elections

On February 12, tens of millions of Bangladeshis cast ballots in nationwide parliamentary elections at a critical inflection point for the nation. Despite a tense security and political environment, the elections were relatively smooth and delivered a sweeping victory for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) as well as a ‘yes’ vote on a concurrent constitutional referendum. Polls were held 18 months after a violent crackdown on mass student protests by security forces that led to the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the fall of her government. An Interim Government, led by Nobel Laureate Mohammad Yunus, has led Bangladesh since, seeking to restore law and order, stabilize the economy, and, more broadly, advance an ambitious reform agenda. It will now be up to the BNP, with a super-majority in parliament, and Tarique Rahman, its leader and presumptive Prime Minister, to implement structural and economic reforms, address insecurity and concerns over extremism, and chart a new foreign policy for Bangladesh amidst strained ties with India and warming relations with Pakistan. This virtual event will convene a panel of Bangladeshi and regional experts to examine the political dynamics that shaped the run-up to the elections, the results, and the likely priorities for the BNP-led government. The discussion will focus in particular on the implications of the elections for democratic and political reforms as well as Bangladesh’s foreign relations.