Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke with Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Tarique Rahman and extended his congratulations following the party’s success in Bangladesh’s national elections. He also reiterated India’s commitment to strengthening ties between the two countries, highlighting their longstanding historical and cultural connections.
“Delighted to speak with Mr. Tarique Rahman. I congratulated him on the remarkable victory in the Bangladesh elections. I conveyed my best wishes and support in his endeavour to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh,” PM Modi wrote on X.
He further noted, “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.”
The message came after the BNP, led by Rahman, secured a decisive mandate in the 13th National Parliament election. Of the 297 declared seats, the BNP and its allies won 212. The 11-party alliance headed by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami secured 77 seats, while Islami Andolan Bangladesh claimed one and independent candidates won seven, according to Prothom Alo.
Party-wise figures showed the BNP alone captured 209 seats. Jamaat-e-Islami secured 68 seats, Jatiya Nagorik Party won six, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlis took two, and Khelafat Majlis, Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP, Gana Sanghati Andolon, and Gana Adhikar Parishad each won one seat.
Earlier, India had said it would wait for the final outcome of the polls before commenting further. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “The election is going on in Bangladesh. We should wait for the outcome of the elections to see as to what sort of mandate has come…and thereafter, we will look at issues that are there. On the election per se, you know what our position has been. We stand for a free, fair, inclusive and credible elections in Bangladesh.”
