On Saturday, BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman prioritized law and order in Bangladesh "at all costs," stating that the 13th general election marked a new chapter for building a safe and humane Bangladesh.
The leader of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), who is set to become the prime minister, replacing the interim government chief Muhammad Yunus, also discussed the revival of SAARC and how his government's foreign policy will be guided by "the greater interests of Bangladesh and its people."
The BNP secured a resounding victory in the landmark parliamentary elections on Thursday, winning more than two-thirds of the seats.
"While our paths and opinions may differ, we must remain united for the sake of the country," Rahman told a press conference, a day after the landslide victory. "I firmly believe that national unity is our collective strength, while division is our weakness."
Rahman, 60, said, "From today, we are all free, with the true essence of freedom and rights restored," but added that peace and law and order must be maintained at all costs. "We will not tolerate any kind of chaos."
The 13th Parliamentary elections were significant because they were held after a period of tumultuous political vacuum, instability, and a fragile security situation, including widespread attacks on minorities following student-led protests that brought down Sheikh Hasina's over 15-year rule in August 2024.
The BNP leader said the party will pursue a foreign policy that protects the country's interests in its dealings with China, India, and Pakistan.
Bangladesh's foreign policy will be guided by "the greater interests of Bangladesh and its people," Rahman said.
Regarding Bangladesh's future relations with China and the Belt and Road Initiative, he said: "If something is not in Bangladesh's interest, naturally we cannot pursue it. I am certain that mutual interests will be our first priority."
The Dhaka Tribune further reported that Rahman also discussed the revival of SAARC, saying, "SAARC was established through Bangladesh's initiative. We want it to function. We will discuss with our friendly states and try to revive SAARC."
The BNP's victory brought the party to power with a two-thirds majority after the party had been virtually out of power for nearly two decades.
Jamaat-e-Islami, a close ally of the BNP and known to be sympathetic to Islamabad, and which opposed Bangladesh's independence in 1971, emerged as the main opposition in the changed political landscape. The outgoing interim government barred Hasina's Awami League from participating in the polls.
The BNP and the Awami League had alternated in power and served as the main opposition in parliament for decades amid intense rivalry.
Rahman said the country is now set to begin its journey in a situation marked by a fragile economy left behind by an "authoritarian regime, a weakened constitution and institutions, and a destroyed law and order system."
"With your spontaneous participation, after more than one and a half decades, a parliament and a government accountable to the people through direct voting are re-established in the country," he said.
"We must remain united and uphold the will of the people to ensure that no evil force can re-establish autocracy in the country and to ensure that the nation is not turned into a subservient state," he asserted.
"We need everyone’s cooperation to build a safe and humane Bangladesh. This time, everyone must play a responsible role in rebuilding the country."
"No injustice can be done to anyone on any excuse. Law and order must be maintained at all costs," Rahman added.
The BNP leader said the freedom-loving people of the country had made BNP victorious, describing the outcome as "the victory of the people."
"From today, everyone is free. Congratulations to all. With the participation of all, the journey of a fascism-free state has begun in the country," the BNP chairman said.
"Everyone’s thoughts are important in building the country. We will build the country based on everyone’s opinions," he said.
"In a democratic state and political system, political parties are the true beacon of democracy," he said. Some 50 political parties took part in the election, he said and added, "Your (parties') ideas and views are important to us in the nation-building process."
During the electioneering, which began days after his return from 17 years of exiled life in the UK, Rahman had noticeably adopted an approach of avoiding inflammatory rhetoric and calling instead for restraint and reconciliation.
According to the Election Commission (EC), the BNP has bagged 209 out of 297 seats, while right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68 seats. Hasina's Awami League party was barred from contesting the polls, which recorded 59.44 per cent voter turnout.
The EC postponed the announcement of results in two seats - Chattogram-2 and Chattogram-4 while the election in one seat was postponed due to the death of a candidate.
