• BNP coalition wins 209 seats in landslide victory.
• Jamaat-e-Islami promises positive opposition.
• Ex-PM Hasina calls election a farce, demands cancellation.

DHAKA: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party won a landslide parliamentary election on Friday, local TV stations showed, securing a resounding mandate in a pivotal vote that is expected to restore political stability in the South Asian nation.

The parliamentary election held on Thursday was Bangladesh’s first vote since the 2024 Gen Z-driven uprising that toppled long-time premier Sheikh Hasina.

A clear outcome had been seen as crucial for stability in the Muslim-majority country of 175 million after months of deadly anti-Hasina unrest disrupted everyday life and hit major industries, including the apparel sector in the world’s second-largest garment exporter.

It was also the first national election to follow recent revolts led by the under-30s that have cropped up through the wider region. Nepal is set to hold a vote next month.

BNP sails to victory

Opinion polls had given BNP an edge and the party lived up to the forecasts, with the coalition it dominates winning 209 seats to secure an overwhelming two-thirds majority in the 300-member Jatiya Sangsad, or House of the Nation, Jamuna TV showed.

Soon after it won a majority in the overnight vote count, the party thanked and congratulated the people and called for special prayers on Friday for the welfare of the country and its people.

“Despite winning the national parliamentary election by a large margin of votes, no celebratory procession or rally shall be organised by BNP,” the party said in a statement and urged people to pray at mosques, temples, churches and pagodas across the country.

The BNP is led by top prime ministerial contender Tarique Rahman, the 60-year-old son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and former President Ziaur Rahman.

Its campaign promises included financial aid for poor families, a 10-year limit for an individual to remain prime minister, boosting the economy by measures including foreign investment, and anti-corruption policies.

Jamaat promises positive opposition

Shafiqur Rahman, the head of BNP’s main rival, the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami, conceded defeat, with his party-led alliance on just 68 seats. Rahman said Jamaat would not engage in the “politics of opposition” for the sake of it. “We will do positive politics,” he told reporters.

The National Citizen Party (NCP), led by youth activists who were instrumental in toppling Hasina and was a part of the Jamaat-led alliance, won just five of 30 seats it contested.

Despite the landslide result, the election had been seen as Bangladesh’s first truly competitive vote in years. Hasina’s Awami League party, which ruled the country for more than 15 years until her ousting, was barred from contesting.

Turnout appeared on track on Thursday to exceed the 42% recorded in the last election in 2024. Local media reported that more than 60% of registered voters were expected to have cast ballots.

More than 2,000 candidates – including many independents – were on the ballot, and at least 50 parties contested seats, a national record. Voting in one constituency was postponed after a candidate died.

Alongside the election, a referendum was held on a set of constitutional reforms, including establishing a neutral interim government for election periods, restructuring parliament into a bicameral legislature, increasing women’s representation, strengthening judicial independence and introducing a two-term limit for the prime minister.

There was no official word on the outcome of the referendum. Leading local newspaper the Daily Star reported that 73% of the nearly 296,000 votes cast in the referendum said ‘Yes’ and the rest said ‘No’.

Hasina calls vote a farce

Hasina is in self-imposed exile in long-term ally India, which has frayed ties between Dhaka and New Delhi and opened the window for China to expand its influence in Bangladesh.

In a statement sent after polling stations closed, Hasina denounced the election as a “carefully planned farce”, held without her party and without real voter participation. She said Awami League supporters had rejected the process.

“We demand the cancellation of this voterless, illegal and unconstitutional election … the removal of the suspension imposed on the activities of the Awami League, and the restoration of the people’s voting rights through the arrangement of a free, fair, and inclusive election under a neutral caretaker government,” she said.

Opponents of Hasina say that elections under her rule were frequently marred by boycotts and intimidation.

Cardi B became visibly emotional on stage as she opened her Little Miss Drama Tour, addressing fans just days after sparking split rumours with NFL star Stefon Diggs.

The rapper fought back tears during the first show of the two-month tour on Wednesday night at the Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California. 

In a moment captured on TikTok, Cardi paused before addressing the crowd, saying, “I do not want to get emotional.” 

She then offered a brief but heartfelt message to fans, adding, “I just want to tell you, don’t let nobody take your happiness away from you,” before launching into Maroon 5’s Girls Like You.

The emotional moment came shortly after speculation grew around the state of her relationship with Diggs following Super Bowl 2026. 

During the championship game between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, Cardi appeared noticeably distant when an ESPN reporter asked if she had any motivating words for Diggs before kickoff.

She simply replied, “Good luck,” before walking away.

Although Cardi made a brief appearance during Bad Bunny’s halftime performance, she was seen leaving straight afterwards. 

Soon after the game, which ended in a dominant win for the Seahawks, fans noticed that Cardi and Diggs had unfollowed each other on social media, further fuelling breakup rumours.

The apparent shift surprised many supporters, especially as Diggs had previously hinted at a possible engagement. 

Speaking to reporters on Super Bowl opening night, he said, “It’s on the agenda. Maybe, right? I gotta get [my Super Bowl ring] first.”

At the time, he also spoke warmly about Cardi’s support throughout the football season, calling her an “amazing woman” and expressing how much he valued her presence. 

He said he appreciated her being there for him, not just at games but also through constant check-ins and messages before and after matches, making sure he was doing well.

Cardi and Diggs welcomed a son together in November. Cardi is also a mother to Kulture, seven, Wave, four, and Blossom, one, whom she shares with her ex-husband Offset.

While neither Cardi nor Diggs has publicly confirmed a split, the singer’s emotional opening night performance has left fans concerned and speculating about what comes next. 

For now, Cardi appears focused on her tour, leaning into her music as she navigates a very public and personal moment.

The Trump administration announced Thursday, February 12, that it is ending its two-month immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conducted a massive operation that flooded the Twin Cities with 3,000 federal agents.

As a result of the operation, 4,000 arrests were made, and two U.S. citizens were dead.

Border czar Tom Homan confirmed from Minneapolis that a “significant drawdown” is already underway.

He asserted that most agents have returned to home bases or have been deployed elsewhere.

A small footprint will remain to close out what the administration called “Operation Metro Surge.”

Homan said: “As a result of our effort here Minnesota is now less of a sanctuary state for criminals.”

Earlier, Minnesota leaders strongly condemned the operation. Tim Walz described it as “an unprecedented federal invasion in all aspects of life.”

“The long road to recovery starts now, they left us with deep damage, generational trauma. They left us with economic ruin in some cases,” he added.

Minnesota officials remain skeptical.

Minneapolis City Council President Elliot Payne said, “I’ll believe it when I see it.”

Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan echoed: “I won’t believe it until they’re actually gone.”

They also criticise the fact that no announcement was made by the administration when it wound down similar operations in Los Angeles and Chicago last year.

Homan’s announcement also reconfirmed “that mass deportation is still on the table and will continue to be our goal,” and cooperation with local jails has “actually enhanced our ability to enforce and deport aliens with minimal visibility.”