Pushes for Hasina’s extradition from India; Rahman set to become PM
Dhaka: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Friday secured a sweeping victory with more than two-thirds majority in the landmark parliamentary elections and is making a spectacular return to power after a gap of two decades.
The 13th parliamentary elections assumed significance as they were held after a period of tumultuous political vacuum, instability and fragile security situation, including widespread attacks on minorities after the student-led protests brought down the 15-year rule of Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.
According to the unofficial results announced by the Election Commission (EC), BNP has bagged 209 out of 297 seats, while right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami, known to be close to Pakistan, secured 68 seats. The Awami League party of Hasina was barred from contesting the polls, which recorded 59.44 per cent voter turnout.
The EC postponed the announcement of results in two seats – Chattogram-2 and Chattogram-4. The election in one seat was postponed due to the death of a candidate.
BNP’s top leader Tarique Rahman is set to become the prime minister for the first time. He will replace the interim government chief Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, under whose tenure Dhaka’s relations with New Delhi witnessed a significant downturn.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Rahman and congratulated him on BNP’s spectacular victory.
“Delighted to speak with Mr Tarique Rahman. I congratulated him on the remarkable victory in the Bangladesh elections,” Modi said on social media.
“I conveyed my best wishes and support in his endeavour to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh. As two close neighbours with deep-rooted historical and cultural ties, I reaffirmed India’s continued commitment to the peace, progress, and prosperity of both our peoples,” he said.
In an earlier social media post, Modi said India will continue to stand in support of a democratic, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh.
On its part, the BNP thanked Modi for recognising the verdict of the elections and hoped that the relations between the two countries would be strengthened under the new government.
“We thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for congratulating our leader, Tarique Rahman. It is great that a democratic country is supposed to recognise the verdict of the people, and Mr Narendra Modi has done this. We thank him,” senior leader Nazrul Islam Khan said.
India-Bangladesh relations witnessed a severe strain after the collapse of the Hasina-led government.
The voting for the general election was held on Thursday, along with a referendum on the implementation of a complex 84-point reform package, known as the July National Charter.
According to Election Commission Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, the referendum saw a 60.26 per cent voter turnout, with the “yes” vote winning a clear majority.
The election was seen as a direct contest between the BNP and its former ally, Jamaat-e-Islami, which led an 11-party alliance.
BNP on Friday reiterated its firm stance on seeking the extradition of ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina from India to face trial.
“The Foreign Minister has already persuaded the case for her extradition, and we also support it,” Senior BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed said.
“We always press for her extradition according to the law. This is between the foreign ministries of the two countries. We also asked the government of India to please send her back to face trial in Bangladesh,” he added.
Ahmed emphasised that Bangladesh seeks normal relations with all neighbours, including India, but only on equal terms.
“We need a friendly relationship based on mutual respect, equality with all the countries, including India,” he said.
Delhi-Dhaka ties may see positive turn, say experts
New Delhi: A positive turn is likely in the ties between India and Bangladesh after a period of more than 18 months that saw the relations being marred by frostiness, as Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a sweeping victory in the parliamentary elections, strategic affairs experts said on Friday.
Many former Indian ambassadors welcomed the outcome and said this is a “good news” for Bangladesh, its people and those who are “friends of Bangladesh”.
Many other former diplomats and strategic affairs experts, including those who have served in Bangladesh, also saw the BNP’s victory in the elections as a development that bodes well for the India-Bangladesh ties.
Bharatiya Janata Party MP and former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla described the poll outcome as a “good news” and said the results have “vindicated” the sentiments of the people of Bangladesh.
“This is good news, not only for Bangladesh and the people of Bangladesh, but also for those who are friends of Bangladesh, who believe in good relations with Bangladesh. It has vindicated their sentiments, for all of us, a very, very good news,” he told reporters in the Parliament complex.
Veena Sikri, who served as India’s high commissioner to Bangladesh from 2003 to 2006, said the Jamaat-e-Islami has been “rejected” by the people of Bangladesh.
