Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday called on party leaders and activists across the country to remain calm and vigilant in the post-election period, warning against any attempt to provoke unrest.

Speaking at a post-polls press conference at InterContinental Dhaka in the capital, he urged supporters to exercise restraint despite provocations so that no untoward incident takes place anywhere in the country.

He cautioned that peace and order must be maintained at any cost, adding that no wrongdoing or unlawful activity would be tolerated.

No excuse, he said, can justify the strong attacking the weak, regardless of party affiliation, religion, caste or differing political views. He warned that no vested quarter should be allowed to exploit the situation to create instability.

Referring to the participation of 51 political parties in the Jatiya Sangsad elections — including Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, National Citizen Party, Islami Andolan Bangladesh, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and Gono Odhikar Parishad — he congratulated all democratic parties that took part in the polls, saying that their ideas would be valued in the nation-building process.

According to the results of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections and the simultaneous constitutional referendum held in 299 constituencies on Thursday, the BNP secured 209 JS seats while the Jamaat won 68.

The BNP chief stressed that without establishing the rule of law, all efforts would be in vain.

The law must apply equally to every citizen — whether in the government or in the opposition — and its enforcement must strictly follow due process, he affirmed.

He described political parties as the beacon of democracy, saying that both the government and the opposition must act responsibly from their respective positions to institutionalise democratic practices.

‘Our paths and opinions may differ but in the matters of national interest we are united,’ he said, adding ‘National unity is the country’s strength while division is its weakness.’

He identified the depoliticisation of institutions, economic recovery, public security and the establishment of good governance as key challenges ahead.

Legal procedures would be followed to ensure the trial of fallen dictator Sheikh Hasina, he said, pledging efforts to revitalise the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Tarique thanked the interim government and the Election Commission for holding a free, fair and peaceful election, saying that their contribution would be remembered in the history of the country’s democracy.

Paying tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in the movements from the 1971 Liberation War to the July uprising in 2024 in defence of the country’s independence and democratic rights, he expressed profound respect to the martyrs.

 He said that their blood had paved the way for today’s democratic Bangladesh.

The BNP, Tarique reminded, had announced its manifesto based on a 31-point outline and also signed the July National Charter with notes of dissent on certain issues.

He pledged that the party would implement its commitments to the people in phases.

Calling the moment one of great joy for party leaders, activists and democracy-loving citizens, he said that the absence of party chairperson Khaleda Zia cast a pall of gloom over the celebrations.

Tarique said that Khaleda Zia who died on December 30, 2025, had waged an uncompromising struggle against authoritarianism in pursuit of democratic rights.

Acknowledging that misunderstandings might have arisen during the election campaign, he urged all sides to make sure that electoral rivalry did not turn into will for revenge or hostility.

Tarique called for unity in combating corruption, maintaining law and order and ensuring accountability to the public.

In the journey to rebuild the nation, he said, every citizen must play a responsible role.

The BNP chair hoped for cooperation from all parties and opinions in establishing a safe, humane, and democratic Bangladesh.

Responding to a question on the foreign policy of the BNP, particularly in relation to neighbouring countries, including India, Tarique said the party’s position was clear: Bangladesh’s national interest and the interests of its people would come first.

He said that foreign policy decisions would be guided by the need to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and welfare.

BNP standing committee member Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury supplemented that the party did not pursue any country-centric approach.

Instead, he added, Bangladesh’s foreign policy would be based on mutual respect, mutual interest, non-interference, and strategic autonomy, principles that would apply uniformly to all countries.

Asked about the verdict of the International Crimes Tribunal against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina on charges of crimes against humanity, Tarique said the matter rested with the judiciary.

During the press conference, BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said that the election marked a victory for liberal democracy.

He said that the people had voted for change — change for development, change in prevailing conditions, change in politics and a transformation towards the democratisation of the economy.