Prime Minister Sushila Karki has congratulated the government and people of Bangladesh on successfully conducting the 13th parliamentary elections.

In a post on X on Friday, she also extended her best wishes to Tarique Rahman on leading the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to a decisive victory.

“Warm congratulations to the government and the people of Bangladesh on the successful conduct of the 13th parliamentary elections! I extend my heartiest congratulations to @trahmanbnp on leading the Bangladesh Nationalist Party to a remarkable victory in the elections,” the prime minister said.

“I look forward to working closely with you to strengthen our neighbourly ties and consolidate cooperation in areas of mutual interest.”

Bangladesh’s opposition BNP returned to power after nearly two decades, winning at least 212 of the 299 seats in a vote widely regarded as the country’s first competitive election in years.

The win positions Rahman, son of former premier Khaleda Zia, to become prime minister as Bangladesh emerges from months of unrest and economic disruption following the collapse of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024, Reuters reported.

An interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus had overseen the country during the transitional period. Rahman, 60, has not yet addressed the media, asking citizens to offer prayers instead of holding large celebrations. The opposition Jamaat-e-Islami and its allies won 77 seats, while the National Citizen Party, part of the Jamaat-led alliance, captured five of the 30 seats it contested.

Analysts said the BNP’s strong parliamentary majority could help stabilise the country and facilitate reforms.