In a farewell address to the nation, the 85-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner said it was time to hand over power to an elected leadership.

“Today, the interim government is stepping down,” Yunus said. “But let the practice of democracy, freedom of speech, and fundamental rights that has begun not be halted.”

Yunus had returned to Bangladesh in August 2024 after the government of Sheikh Hasina was removed in a student-led uprising. Hasina left the country by helicopter and went to India.

“That was the day of great liberation,” Yunus recalled. “What a day of joy it was! Bangladeshis across the world shed tears of happiness.”

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He congratulated the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and its leader, Tarique Rahman, on their “landslide victory” in last week’s elections.

“The people, voters, political parties, and stakeholder institutions linked to the election have set a commendable example,” Yunus said, adding, “This election has set a benchmark for future elections.”

The BNP alliance won 212 seats, while the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance secured 77 seats, according to the Election Commission.

Tarique Rahman, 60, is now set to lead the country of 170 million people as prime minister after lawmakers are sworn in.

On the same day as the election, voters also approved major democratic reforms through a national referendum. The reform document, called the “July Charter”, proposes term limits for prime ministers, the creation of an upper house of parliament, stronger presidential powers, and greater independence for the judiciary.

“We did not start from zero, we started from a deficit,” Yunus said. “Sweeping away the ruins, we rebuilt institutions and set the course for reforms.”

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Although the referendum result makes the charter binding on the winning parties, the new parliament must still formally approve the reforms.

During the campaign period, political clashes left five people dead and more than 600 injured. However, Election Day passed peacefully, and the country has largely remained calm following the results.