ThePrint ThePrintPod: Why BNP’s win in Bangladesh doesn’t necessarily mark the end of Awami League
Feb 16, 2026
Deep Halder, author and columnist on South Asia, breaks down Bangladesh's 13th parliamentary shift. He explains BNP's decisive win and Jamaat-e-Islami's surge. He outlines Sheikh Hasina's absence and its impact on Awami League politics. He explores Tarique Rahman’s legal turn and possible BNP strategies, plus international reactions and what might happen next.
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BNP Victory Amid Awami League Disarray
- The 13th parliamentary elections gave a decisive mandate to the BNP while Awami League faces exile and bans.
- Many top and middle Awami League leaders are abroad and numerous party members remain jailed, limiting its political activity.
Battle Of The Begums Shapes Politics
- The rivalry between BNP and Awami League has dominated Bangladesh politics as the 'Battle of the Begums.'
- Historical cycles of exile, corruption allegations and rights abuses shaped both parties' confrontations and legal battles.
Tarique Rahman's Overturned Conviction
- Tarique Rahman was convicted for the 2004 grenade attack but his conviction was later overturned after Sheikh Hasina's government's fall.
- That legal reversal removed a major barrier to Tarique Rahman's political legitimacy.