The 13th parliamentary election has marked a monumental shift in the political landscape of Bangladesh, characterised by a realignment of alliances and the emergence of new political dynamics.
The most significant development of this election is the total defeat of Jatiya Party (JaPa), which failed to secure a single seat for the first time in its history.
Since the transition to parliamentary democracy in 1991, the party had maintained representation in every parliament until now, making this an unprecedented era for the organisation.
Landslide for BNP alliance
The elections, held 18 months after the interim government assumed office, resulted in an absolute majority for BNP – led by Tarique Rahman.
Out of the 299 seats contested, the BNP alliance established a dominant position, followed by the Jamaat-e-Islami alliance in second place. The remaining seats were won by independent candidates and other parties.
In stark contrast, the Jatiya Party, which fielded candidates in 258 constituencies, failed to win in any of them.
This result marks a definitive departure from the party’s three-decade-long presence in the House, where it had previously survived various political upheavals as either an independent force or a member of a coalition.
Collapse in Rangpur stronghold
The scale of the disaster was most evident in the Rangpur Division, long considered the Jatiya Party’s impenetrable bastion. Party Chairman GM Quader finished third in the Rangpur-3 constituency – a seat he previously held while serving as the Leader of the Opposition.
Similarly, the party’s Secretary General Shamim Haider Patwary suffered defeat in Gaibandha-1, also finishing in third place.
In a symbolic blow to the party, the Jamaat alliance secured five of the six seats in the Rangpur Division, while the NCP won the remaining one.
A legacy of division and decline
Founded on 1 January 1986 by General Hussain Muhammad Ershad to civilianise his military rule, the Jatiya Party won two elections within its first two years. However, following Ershad’s fall in the 1990 mass uprising, the party never regained its former dominance.
In recent years, the party faced criticism for its “dual role” as a member of the ruling coalition while simultaneously acting as the “domesticated opposition” after 2014. Leadership crises and internal divisions intensified following Ershad’s death.
The party is currently split into two factions: one led by GM Quader and Shamim Haider Patwary, and the other by Anisul Islam Mahmud and ABM Ruhul Amin Howladar.
A new political equation
The 13th general election took place in a transformed environment following the 5 August 2024 mass uprising that ousted the Awami League after 16 years in power.
The Awami League was unable to contest the 12 February polls as the interim government had banned its activities via executive order.
This vacuum, combined with the Jatiya Party’s historical ties to the previous regime and its internal fragmentation, has resulted in a new and complex political equation for the country.
