Bangladesh polls: ‘Will reach out to BNP’ — Hasina’s son signals next steps, vows Awami League comeback

Wazed hints BNP outreach, warns of Jamaat

As Bangladesh went to the polls for its 13th parliamentary elections, Sajeeb Wazed, the son of exiled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, hinted at a possible political outreach to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), describing it as the country’s “major party” and indicating that engagement could begin soon.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with CNN-News18, Wazed said, “BNP is the major party in Bangladesh. We are going to reach out to them soon.”

His comments come amid the absence of Hasina’s Awami League from the election, after the party was barred from contesting. Wazed said this had left the electoral contest wide open for the BNP.

“It’s an open field for BNP in the elections because there is no real opposition and we are barred from fighting the elections,” he told CNN-News18.

Despite being excluded from the polls, Wazed maintained that the Awami League remained politically significant and would return to power in the future.

“Awami League is not going anywhere because people of Bangladesh still love our party. We will make a comeback in Bangladesh,” he said, adding that the country “developed the most under the Awami League.”

Wazed also criticised Jamaat-e-Islami, minimising its popular support while warning of potential repercussions if it gains parliamentary influence.

“Jamaat has very little support in Bangladesh. If Jamaat has a say in the Bangladesh parliament, then terrorism will continue in the country,” he said in the interview.

According to early results from Bangladesh’s 13th parliamentary elections, the BNP and the Jamaat-e-Islami alliance have won one seat each so far, local outlet Desh Rupantor reported. Preliminary figures show the BNP-led alliance securing 46.7% of the votes counted, while Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies have obtained 48.5%.

Vote counting began after polling ended at 4:30 pm local time. Bangladesh Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said voter turnout stood at 47.91% as of 2 pm, with final consolidated figures expected later in the evening.

The closely watched election marks the first national poll since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government, with the Awami League barred from participating.

Hasina has also called for the “cancellation of this voterless, illegal and unconstitutional election,” while praising voters for “boycotting and rejecting this election without the Awami League.”

Wazed further argued that restrictions on campaigning by progressive parties had inadvertently boosted Jamaat’s chances.

“All progressive parties in Bangladesh were not allowed to campaign. That’s why Jamaat has a good chance to win more seats in this election,” he said.