NEW DELHI: In a major diplomatic outreach following Bangladesh’s general election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke with Tarique Rahman, congratulating him on leading the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to a decisive victory and reaffirming India’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
“Delighted to speak with Tarique Rahman. I congratulated him on the remarkable victory in the Bangladesh elections,” Modi said on X after the call.
“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.” Modi was the first world leader to hold a telephone call with Rahman.
Earlier, Modi had described the mandate as a reflection of public confidence in Rahman’s leadership. “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,” he said.
According to official results, the BNP and its allies won 212 of the 297 seats declared, placing the party comfortably above the majority mark. The 11-party electoral alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami secured 77 seats, while Islami Andolan Bangladesh won one seat. Independent candidates claimed seven seats.
BNP chief Tarique Rahman, son of former president Ziaur Rahman and former prime minister Khaleda Zia, is expected to assume the premiership once the party formally stakes claim to form the government. The election is being described as a historic milestone, as it is the first since 1991, when Bangladesh returned to parliamentary democracy, to be held without the participation of former prime ministers Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina.
Sheikh Hasina’s ouster last year and the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus had strained relations between Dhaka and New Delhi. Humayun Kabir, an adviser to Rahman and seen as a potential cabinet member, described the engagement as significant. “PM Modi is the first world leader to hold a telephonic conversation with the BNP chief and the next prime minister of Bangladesh,” Kabir said, calling it “a welcome gesture.”
The BNP, which has alternated in power with the now-banned Awami League, fought the election on a platform promising a “welfare-oriented and prosperous” Bangladesh. Its manifesto includes proposals for higher financial support to low-income families, expansion of the healthcare workforce, education reforms, and stronger measures to enhance climate resilience.