UPDATES WITH UNOFFICIAL SOURCES; REVISES HEADLINE, LEDE
By SM Najmus Sakib, Saadet Gokce and Riyaz ul Khaliq
DHAKA/ISTANBUL (AA) - Unofficial results early Friday showed the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leading with a majority of seats after millions of Bangladeshis cast their ballots in Thursday’s general election, the first since the 2024 ouster of Sheikh Hasina, according to local media.
The BNP is leading with 151 constituencies so far, according to the Dhaka Tribune.
Alliances led by the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami are the two main contenders, as Hasina's Awami League was barred from the vote.
The counting of ballots in 299 constituencies began soon after polls closed.
The Election Commission has not yet confirmed the results.
Jamaat's chief Shafiqur Rahman earlier alleged that election officials in some constituencies were "holding results, despite counts being completed, and that Jamaat won those seats."
A clearer picture of the results is expected to take several more hours.
Voting took place between 7.30 am local time (0130GMT) and 4.30 pm (1030GMT).
More than 127.6 million people were eligible to vote in the election, which also included a referendum on constitutional reforms.
The polls were largely peaceful, but at least nine deaths were reported, according to the Prothom Alo newspaper.
"Some of them fell ill at polling centers, some on their way after voting, and some while performing their duties at the centers. In some cases, allegations and counter-allegations have also arisen regarding the deaths," it said.
Voter turnout was expected to hit 60%, higher than the January 2024 elections, which were won by Hasina's Awami League but boycotted by the BNP-Jamaat opposition.
Election authorities also received 1.14 million postal ballots, including 495,551 votes cast by expats.
A total of 51 political parties and 2,034 candidates ran for parliamentary seats, including 275 independents.
While 300 lawmakers are directly elected, 50 seats are reserved for women.
Voting was postponed on one seat as a candidate died shortly before the election.