The BNP swept the polls in Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar, decisively outpacing Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in a contest analysts describe as a victory decided by stronger organization, seasoned leadership, and more credible candidates.
In one of the most emphatic regional outcomes of the 13th parliament elections, BNP secured 21 of the 23 seats across greater Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar. Jamaat won just two. In Cox’s Bazar district, BNP swept all four constituencies, leaving Jamaat without representation there.
Experience and structure prove decisive
Political observers attribute BNP’s dominance to its long-established organizational base in the southeast, particularly in the port city of Chattogram and the surrounding hill and coastal belt.
Professor Enayet Ullah Patwary of the Political Science department at University of Chittagong said BNP’s structural and leadership advantages were critical.
“BNP’s organizational foundation in this region is deeply rooted,” he noted. “Its leaders possess decades of electoral experience, strong local networks, and the ability to mobilize voters effectively.”
According to Patwary, many Jamaat candidates lacked comparable electoral exposure. “The party’s grassroots machinery was not strong enough to manage polling operations or mobilize voters on the same scale,” he said, adding that Jamaat’s nomination process appeared to prioritize internal hierarchy over broader electability.
National gains, regional weakness
Nationally, Jamaat fared better than in the southeast, though it remained well behind BNP. BNP and its allies secured approximately 212 of the 300 parliamentary seats, ensuring a commanding majority in the Jatiya Sangsad.
Jamaat and its aligned partners won an estimated 77 seats nationwide, positioning the party as a secondary force in parliament. However, the stark disparity between its national footprint and its near-collapse in Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar underscored significant regional vulnerabilities.
Messaging and leadership factor
Analysts also cited strategic differences in campaign messaging. Mohammad Niaz, associate professor of political science at the University of Chittagong, said Jamaat’s emphasis on ideological and religious themes failed to resonate strongly with voters in the economically strategic coastal districts.
“In contrast, BNP focused on leadership credibility, governance experience, and local development priorities,” Niaz said. “Those issues aligned more closely with voter expectations in Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar.”
He also pointed to the role of senior BNP leaders such as Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and Salauddin Ahmed, who oversaw candidate selection and ensured nominees possessed strong local standing and electoral viability.
A regional realignment
The outcome signals what many observers describe as a clear political realignment in Bangladesh’s key port and coastal regions. Voters in these commercially vital districts appeared to prioritize organizational strength, experienced leadership, and pragmatic development agendas over ideological positioning.
While Jamaat retains a presence in national politics, its poor showing in the southeast marks one of its most serious regional setbacks in recent electoral history. Analysts suggest the party may now be compelled to reassess its grassroots strategy, candidate selection process, and campaign messaging.
For BNP, the results consolidate its dominance in the country’s southern corridor — reinforcing its position as the principal political force in Bangladesh’s coastal and port belt.
