New Delhi, 26 December. India reiterated its support for free, fair, and inclusive elections in Bangladesh on Friday. The return of Tarique Rahman, Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), to the country should be viewed within a broad democratic framework, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
MEA spokesperson Randeep Jaiswal stated during a weekly media briefing in New Delhi, “We support free, fair, and inclusive elections in Bangladesh. The return of the BNP leader from London should be seen in this context.”
Tarique Rahman returned to Bangladesh on Thursday after 17 years of self-imposed exile amid a serious political crisis. He arrived at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight, accompanied by his wife Zubaida Rahman and daughter Jema Rahman.
Rahman’s return comes at a time when the Bangladesh Election Commission has announced the 13th national parliamentary elections and a referendum on the July charter, both scheduled for 12 February next year.
Analysts believe Rahman’s return and his potential participation in the February 2026 elections will test the political turmoil under the interim government led by Mohammad Yunus. Pressure is mounting on the interim government to conduct free, fair, and credible elections.
Critics have also warned that Rahman’s return amid Bangladesh’s unstable political environment could further deepen tensions across the country.
Meanwhile, the MEA reaffirmed India’s commitment to the historic legacy of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and the strong India-Bangladesh ties developed through people-to-people contact and development cooperation.
Randeep Jaiswal said, “Our stance on Bangladesh has always been clear and consistent. India supports strengthening relations with the people of Bangladesh. We advocate for peace and stability there. Our view on elections is also clear. We support free, fair, inclusive, and participatory elections in a peaceful environment.”
In response to a question on India’s financial assistance to Dhaka, the MEA said that despite changing circumstances, India stands for peace and stability in Bangladesh and wishes to maintain strong ties with its people.
It is notable that violence in Bangladesh has sharply increased in recent months under the Yunus-led interim government, including attacks targeting Hindu minorities nationwide.
The MEA has made it clear that India is closely monitoring the situation in Bangladesh and has expressed serious concerns to Bangladeshi authorities regarding attacks on minorities, especially Hindus.
– DSC