Bangladesh Election Frontrunner Rejects Unity Government Proposal

Bangladesh opposition leader Tarique Rahman has rejected a proposal to form a post-election unity government, saying his party expects to win an outright majority in the country’s February 12 general election.

Rahman, acting chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), told Reuters that his party did not see the need for a coalition arrangement after the vote. He said the BNP was on course to secure a clear mandate in the 300-seat parliament and would form the next government on its own.

The unity government proposal was floated by Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist party that was previously allied with the BNP and shared power with it from 2001 to 2006. Jamaat leaders have argued that a broad-based government could help restore political stability and investor confidence following months of unrest.

• Tarique Rahman rejects unity government plan ahead of Bangladesh election
• BNP expects outright majority in Feb 12 vote, rules out coalition government
• Bangladesh heads to first election since Sheikh Hasina’s removal in 2024

Bangladesh is heading into its first national election since mass protests in 2024 led to the removal of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country after a violent crackdown on demonstrators. The Awami League, which Hasina led for years, has been barred from contesting the election, leaving the BNP as the dominant national party in the race.

Rahman returned to Bangladesh in December after nearly 20 years in exile and has since campaigned across the country. He said Jamaat-e-Islami was likely to emerge as the main opposition force but maintained that the BNP was positioned to win more than two-thirds of parliamentary seats.

On policy priorities, Rahman said a BNP government would focus on economic recovery, job creation, and restoring democratic institutions. He added that foreign policy would be guided by national interest, without favouring any single regional power.

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The election is being overseen by an interim administration headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, which has pledged to ensure a credible and orderly vote.