STORY: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party won a landmark parliamentary election on Friday (February 13), as ballots were counted in a pivotal vote that is expected to restore political stability in the troubled South Asian country.

By around 4 a.m. local time, the BNP had secured 185 seats in the 300-member Jatiya Sangsad, or House of the Nation, TV channels showed, easily crossing the halfway mark for a simple majority.

Shafiqur Rahman, the head of BNP's main rival, the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, conceded defeat, with his party on just 56 seats.

BNP’s prime ministerial contender Tarique Rahman, the 60‑year‑old son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and former President Ziaur Rahman, was seen leaving his office in a car, surrounded by media and supporters, shortly after his party’s win was confirmed.

Votes were cast on Thursday (February 12) and tens of millions of Bangladeshis turned up for what was the first election since the 2024 Gen Z-driven uprising that toppled long‑time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: BANGLADESH NATIONALIST PARTY CHAIRMAN TARIQUE RAHMAN'S CAR SURROUNDED BY CROWDS, RAHMAN WAVING FROM INSIDE CAR, RAHMAN'S CAR DRIVING AWAY, SOUNDBITES FROM BNP SUPPORTERS

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: REFILING EDIT TO COLOUR-CORRECT VARIOUS SHOTS. THERE IS NO CHANGE TO TEMPLATE, SHOTLIST OR STORY.

SHOWS: DHAKA, BANGLADESH (FEBRUARY 13, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. BANGLADESH NATIONALIST PARTY CHAIRMAN TARIQUE RAHMAN'S CAR LEAVING HIS OFFICE, SURROUNDED BY MEDIA AND SUPPORTERS / RAHMAN WAVING FROM INSIDE CAR

2. BNP SECURITY PERSONNEL PUSHING CROWD BACK / RAHMAN SEATED IN CAR AND MAKING SHUSH GESTURE

3. CROWDS MOVING ALONGSIDE CAR

4. RAHMAN SEATED IN CAR, SEEN THROUGH CAR WINDOW

5. RAHMAN'S CAR LEAVING / CROWDS

6. BNP'S ELECTION BANNER WITH RAHMAN'S IMAGE AND PARTY SYMBOL

7. PEOPLE GATHERED OUTSIDE RAHMAN'S OFFICE / BNP ELECTION BANNERS

8. BNP SUPPORTERS CHATTING WITH EACH OTHER

9. ENTRANCE TO RAHMAN'S OFFICE BUILDING

10. PEOPLE POSING FOR PHOTO IN FRONT OF RAHMAN'S OFFICE

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 56-YEAR-OLD BUSINESSMAN AND BNP SUPPORTER RAFIQUL HUDA, SAYING:

"I came here to celebrate this occasion. It is a big victory. I am a big fan of Mr. Tarique Zia (Rahman), so I came here to see him here after this win."

12. PEOPLE POSING FOR GROUP PHOTO

13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 44-YEAR-OLD BUSINESSMAN AND BNP SUPPORTER TANIM ISLAM, SAYING:

"Basically it is a fascinating moment for us, because after 17 years we got the opportunity to vote, and we could vote for the candidates of the party which we love."

14. FRAMED BNP ELECTION POSTER

15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 41-YEAR-OLD HOUSEWIFE AND BNP SUPPORTER ZINAT AFROZE, SAYING:

"We are celebrating the victory of our favourite political team."

16. PEOPLE GATHERED OUTSIDE RAHMAN'S OFFICE

17. (SOUNDBITE) (English) 19-YEAR-OLD UNIVERSITY STUDENT AND BNP SUPPORTER MUBASSHIRUL ISLAM, SAYING:

"Of course he is the greatest leader we could ever ask for. I don't know...I really hope he is the change that we are looking for after whatever happened in July (2024)."

18. BNP SUPPORTERS SEATED ON ROADSIDE