PM Modi Congratulates Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina on Fourth Consecutive Election Win

Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina on her re-election on Monday.

In a post on social media site X, PM Modi said: “Spoke to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and congratulated her on her victory for a historic fourth consecutive term in the Parliamentary elections. I also congratulate the people of Bangladesh for the successful conduct of elections. We are committed to further strengthen our enduring and people-centric partnership with Bangladesh”.

Hasina also earlier in the day shared her plans for the nation’s international relations and expressed gratitude towards India and highlighted the strong relationship between both countries. She pointed out that India has played a pivotal role in Bangladesh’s history and supported it since its inception. “India is a great friend of Bangladesh. They supported us in 1971 and 1975. We consider India our next-door neighbour. I really appreciate that we have a wonderful relationship with India,” Hasina was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League party won 222 seats out of 299, according to the Election Commission, cementing a majority in Parliament and extending her 15-year rule. “In the next 5 years, our main focus will be on economic progress and fulfilling all the work that we have started. We have already declared our manifesto, and we follow our election manifesto whenever we prepare our budget and try to fulfil our promises. The development of the people and our country is our main aim,” the Bangladesh Prime Minister told the news agency.

She said her victory reflects people’s choices while pointing out that there were some concerns about certain individuals tied to terror groups and their participation in the elections. The election held on Sunday was boycotted by opposition party Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) led by jailed former prime minister Khaleda Zia. Hasina’s victory came amid a low voter turnout at 41.8%.

The main opposition party has demanded a fresh election to establish a “legitimate” government but the government has defended the polls as open and inclusive.

INC Congratulates Hasina

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also congratulated Sheikh Hasina on her victory. He highlighted that her father, founder of Bangladesh Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and former prime minister and Congress chief Indira Gandhi laid the foundation of modern India-Bangladesh ties as India helped Bangladesh during its fight for liberation from Pakistan in 1971.

“On behalf of the Indian National Congress, I congratulate the Awami League and Bangladesh Prime Minister, HE Smt. Sheikh Hasina for their resounding victory in the recently concluded general elections. India and Bangladesh are civilisational, culturally and socio-economically linked. Our ties are bonded by the fight for the Liberation of Bangladesh in 1971,” Kharge said.

“Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and our leader Smt. Indira Gandhi laid the foundation of our deep-rooted and indestructible bilateral ties which reflect an all-encompassing partnership based on sovereignty, equality, trust, and understanding that goes far beyond strategic partnership,’ he further added via a post on social media site X.