BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed briefed the press at his residence. Photo: BSS

COX'S BAZAR, Feb 13, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed has secured a landslide victory in the Cox's Bazar-1 constituency, defeating his nearest rival by a substantial margin of 94,447 votes.

According to the published results, Salahuddin received 219,758 votes. His nearest rival, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Abdullah Al Farooq bagged 125,311 votes.
 
While briefing the press at his residence on Thursday, Salahuddin laid emphasis on a very vibrant opposition party in the upcoming parliament and argued that a strong opposition is a fundamental requirement for ensuring a responsible government and achieving good governance. 

Such a presence, he noted, is vital to maintaining the checks and balances necessary for a functional democratic system. 

In response to questions regarding post-election celebrations, Salahuddin Ahmed announced that the party has decided to forgo victory rallies. 

He remarked that the party views this landslide victory as a heavy burden of responsibility rather than a simple occasion for celebration. 

He noted that the victory was expected, given the public fervor witnessed following party Chairman Tarique Rahman's return to the country. 

Salahuddin detailed a long-term developmental vision aimed at empowering the youth and modernizing the state structure. 

He highlighted three core pillars that will define the party's governance - technology-based, merit-based and knowledge-based principles.

He further referenced the BNP's historical commitment to institutional integrity, including the party's established track record of ensuring the independence of the judiciary and the freedom of the media since 1979.

Concluding his remarks, Salahuddin stated that the electorate has placed its trust in the BNP as the safest custodian of national sovereignty and the rule of law. 

He pointed to the massive public support as evidence, noting that people across the country waited all night until dawn just to see and hear the party chairman. 

He emphasized that Tarique Rahman's 'I Have a Plan' is not merely a speech, but a roadmap outlining how the BNP intends to foster national progress and safeguard the rights of the younger generation.