Bangladesh election

• No surprises in the results

The elections in Bangladesh on Friday sprang no sur[rises. The Bangladesh National Party’s victory was a virtual certainty, with the only niggle being about whether it would achieve a two-thirds majority (with 212 of the 299 seats of the Jatiya Sangsad, it did}. The Jamaat Islami came in second, with its 71 seats the party’s best showing ever. The National Citizens Party, which consisted of the leaders of the students movement which ousted the Awami League’s Hasina Wajid in 2024. There was a surprising amount of continuity in the election, though. The next Prime Minister of Bangladesh will be Mr Tarique Rehman, who is the son of former military ruler Ziaur Rehman and of former PM Begum Khaleda Zia, whose recent passing away and funeral was used by many world leaders using the occasion to make a preliminary assessment of Mr Rehman.

It is not as if he is coming to a bed of roses. Bangladesh has got a number of problems that will demand immediate attention. While not faltering in his Bangladeshi patriotism, his parents’ convictions also will probably lead to him seeking better ties with Pakistan. He will probably improve the ties which saw Pakistan threaten a walkout from the ICC T20 World Cup being hosted by India in support of Bangladesh, which was dropped from the tournament (by an ICC headed by a BJP apparatchik). He will also refuse to trail as supinely in India's wake as supinely as did the Awami League government. Mr Rahman is both a break with the past, as well as a continuation. He was very much by his mother’s side as she led off against Sh Hasina Wajid of the Awami League, in the Battle of the Begams, which started in 1996, and lasted until 2024. Begum Khaleda is no more; Begum Hasina has been sentenced to death for the deaths of students in the students’ movement which led to her ouster.

One of things that the election showed is that while the Battle of the Begums is over, the -
League-BNP rivalry is not over yet. This election was marred by the fact the League was off the ballot. The League has also not put forward a standardbearer. It ain’t over till the fat lady sings…