Daijiworld Media Network - Dhaka

Dhaka, Feb 16: Four candidates from minority communities, including two Hindus, secured victory in Bangladesh’s recent general elections, all on tickets of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which is set to form the next government on Tuesday.

The two Hindu candidates — Goyeshwar Chandra Roy and Nitai Roy Chowdhury — emerged victorious from a Dhaka seat and the western Magura constituency respectively, defeating rivals fielded by the Jamaat-e-Islami. Roy is a member of the BNP’s highest policy-making standing committee, while Chowdhury serves as one of the party’s prominent vice presidents and a senior advisor to its top leadership.

The third minority MP-elect, Saching Pru, a senior BNP leader and follower of the Buddhist faith, represents the Marma ethnic community from the southeastern hill district of Bandarban. He defeated a nominee of the National Citizen Party (NCP), formed last year by the Students Against Discrimination movement that spearheaded protests against former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.

Dipen Dewan, the fourth minority candidate, hails from the Buddhist-majority Chakma ethnic group and won from a constituency in Rangamati hill district. However, his religious identity remains unclear, with some describing him as a Hindu. Dewan defeated an independent Chakma candidate to clinch the seat.

Hindus constitute around eight per cent of Bangladesh’s 170 million population. According to the Election Commission, 79 candidates from religious minority communities — including 10 women — contested the elections. Of them, 67 were nominated by 22 political parties while 12 ran as independents.

The Communist Party of Bangladesh fielded the highest number of minority candidates at 17, followed by Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal (eight), Bangladesh Minority Janata Party (eight) and Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (seven). The BNP nominated six minority candidates, while the Jatiya Party fielded four.

In a first, the Jamaat-e-Islami nominated a minority Hindu candidate, veteran businessman Krishna Nandi, from a southwestern Khulna constituency. Though he lost to a BNP rival, his candidacy drew widespread attention. He finished runner-up in the Khulna-1 constituency.

In the 2024 general election, 17 Hindu MPs were elected — the same number as in 2018, when most belonged to the Awami League led by Hasina.

Led by Tarique Rahman, the BNP swept to power with a two-thirds majority, securing 49.97 per cent of the vote and 209 seats in Thursday’s polls, the results of which were declared on Friday. The Jamaat-e-Islami recorded its best-ever performance with 31.76 per cent votes and 68 seats, while the National Citizen Party secured six seats with 3.05 per cent of the vote.