Engaging with the new Dhaka

The BNP’s sweeping win should mark the return of normalcy in Bangladesh — and a revival of friendly relations with India

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The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has, as widely anticipated, pulled off a win in the first election held since a student-led uprising toppled the Sheikh Hasina government in August 2024, with the party set to comfortably get a two-thirds majority in a 300-strong Parliament.

The alliance led by the Jamaat-e-Islami, which includes the National Citizen Party (NCP), is set to win over 70 seats. Alleyes will now be on the transfer of power — interim government chief Muhammad Yunus has said it will be done at the earliest, but the final word can be said only after the process is completed. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first to congratulate BNP chief Tarique Rahman, who is set to be the next premier, signalling India’s desire to move quickly on rebuilding relations after a stormy interregnum under the interim administration led by Yunus. The BNP leadership, too, has said it wants cordial ties with India and will not privilege or discriminate against any country.