PM Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman on his party’s decisive victory in Bangladesh’s parliamentary elections, asserting that India will continue to support a democratic, progressive and inclusive neighbourhood as the BNP crossed the majority mark.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, “I convey my warm congratulations to Mr. Tarique Rahman on leading BNP to a decisive victory in the Parliamentary elections in Bangladesh. This victory shows the trust of the people of Bangladesh in your leadership. India will continue to stand in support of a democratic, progressive and inclusive Bangladesh. I look forward to working with you to strengthen our multifaceted relations and advance our common development goals.”
Bangladesh election result
According to local media, the Tarique Rahman-led BNP and its allies, including Gono Odhikar Porishad and Gono Songhoti Andolon, have won 211 seats, securing a commanding two-thirds majority in parliament. The Jamaat-e-Islami alliance captured 70 seats, while other parties managed to win six.
Unofficial results from most constituencies indicate that BNP comfortably crossed the threshold required to form the government. In several key races, BNP candidates, including party chairman and prime ministerial front‑runner Tarique Rahman, emerged victorious with substantial vote counts. Overall, the outcome reflects a clear and decisive win for the party nationwide.
Why is Bangladesh elections important for India?
India is closely monitoring theparliamentary elections in Bangladesh, the first since the bloody July 2024 coup that ended Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule and forced her into exile.
Delhi views a strong showing by radical Islamists like Jamaat-e-Islami, or their inclusion in the BNP-led coalition, as a red line that could strain relations, push Dhaka closer to Pakistan and China, and undermine New Delhi’s regional influence. Dhaka’s tilt toward Islamabad risks turning Bangladesh into a terrorist haven for Pakistan-backed militants targeting India’s eastern flank—adding to Delhi’s existing western concerns from Islamabad and Beijing.
