Tarique Rahman vows to accept results if polls remain free, fair, peaceful. Photo : BSS

DHAKA, Feb 12, 2026 (BSS) - BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman today said the polls results will be accepted if the election is held in a free, fair and neutral manner.

"If the election is held in a free, fair, impartial manner and without controversy, then why shouldn't we accept it? We will accept it. However, of course there is one condition that the election must be impartial and peaceful. If the people cast their votes, there can be a democratic beginning in the country from today," he said.

Tarique Rahman made these remarks to reporters at the Gulshan BNP chairman's office after visiting various centers in the capital.

He said, "I have visited some places (centers) in Dhaka city... The people can cast their votes in a peaceful situation as they were deprived of their right for more than a decade. There is enthusiasm among the people."

Urging the countrymen to exercise their voting right peacefully, he said, "Let us take the initiative to build the desired Bangladesh together."

Replying to a query, Tarique Rahman said, "We are confident, Alhamdulillah, I'm optimistic about victory."

When asked how many seats he is hopeful of winning, the BNP Chairman said, "We are expecting this much - that we will be able to run the country well if we win as many seats as we can." 

Replying to another query over formation of a national government, he said, "I want to run the country with more or less everyone with whom I have fought and struggled together."

Tarique Rahman said, "I have visited various centers so far, but I have not received news from all over the country yet. I just came to the office. Five hours have passed, but I was visiting various centers. As a result, I could not get the news. The way I saw the atmosphere in Dhaka city, it seemed that people were voting in a very festive atmosphere." 

He said, "I was watching news from various media outlets through my mobile phone. There I saw that unexpected incidents are happening in different places now. A political party is repeatedly causing some unexpected incidents. We do not want such incidents."

He said, "We believe that the people are the owners of the country. If they come out, if they exercise their rights, the number of votes will increase and the conspiracies of all parties will be thwarted."

Tarique Rahman said that people's negative perception of those who are causing unpleasant incidents will increase. These incidents are not good. They are trying to do immoral things in various ways, he added.

Replying another question regarding the time for counting of votes, he said, "I don't see any reason for delay in counting the votes. People from all over the country will want the results quickly wherever they have voted. The Election Commission will try to convey the results of the people's votes to them as soon as possible." 

The BNP chairman said, "We have seen fair elections in 1991, 1996 and 2001. There is a normal time for the results to be announced. We hope that this time too, we will know the results of the vote as soon as possible." 

Tarique Rahman said, "We are witnessing some undesirable events, some are trying to mislead the people. Such things cannot be accepted, no one will accept them."