Asad MirzaNew Delhi, Feb. 16 -- The much-anticipated election results from Bangladesh are out. The BNP has secured 209 seats, while the Jamaat-e-Islami won 68, as the Election Commission disclosed the unofficial election results for 297 constituencies. But the scale of the win surprised some observers, given expectations of a tighter race and wins by Jamaat-e-Islami.
The keenly watched elections in Bangladesh were important, not just for the country but for the region as a whole. At the centre of this was the anticipated performance of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI). The Islamist party had gained prominence after aligning itself with protestors' demands during the 2024 uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Her Awami League, w...