Four Islamic parties, including Jamaat, enter parliament after 52 years

In a historic shift in Bangladesh’s political landscape, a lotal of four Islamic parties, including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, have won representation in parliament for the first time since 1973, collectively securing 77 seats.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Tarique Rahman, won 212 seats to form the government, while Jamaat became the main opposition with 68 seats. The National Citizens Party (NCP) secured six seats.

Allies of the Jamaat-led coalition, including Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis, also won key seats: Madaripur-1, Mymensingh-2, and Sylhet-5. Islami Andolan Bangladesh won Barguna-1, defeating a strong BNP candidate.

Since 1973, no Islamic party other than Jamaat had won parliamentary seats. The 2026 election marks a notable resurgence of Islamic parties in Bangladesh’s political arena.

Of 51 parties contesting, only nine secured parliamentary representation, with party-affiliated candidates dominating the 297 declared seats.