New Delhi (India) February 14:In his opening speech after a decisive victory in Bangladesh’s national elections, the BNP chairman Tarique Rahman on Saturday called for unity and dedicated the party’s success to those who “sacrificed for democracy.”
“This victory belongs to Bangladesh. This victory belongs to democracy. This victory belongs to the people who aspire to and have sacrificed for democracy. From today, we are all free, with the true essence of freedom and rights restored,” Rahman said.

People-First Approach to India Ties

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Tarique Rahman said on Saturday that Dhaka’s foreign policy should be guided by the principle “people come first,” including in its ties with India. Rahman said that the national interest of the country would continue to be the central aspect of his government’s engagement abroad.
As to a question on relations with India, Rahman said, “The interests of Bangladesh and its people comes first and it will determine our foreign policy.”

Warnings on Subservience

The chief of the BNP, however, warned that the country must remain alert and must bear in mind that Bangladesh must not become a subservient state.
He said, “To ensure that no evil force can reestablish autocracy in the country and that the nation is not turned into a subservient state, we must remain united and uphold the will of the people. In a democratic state and political system, political parties are the true beacon of democracy. If both the government and the opposition play responsible roles from their respective positions, democracy will surely take an essential form in the country.”
He also urged all political parties to join hands to facilitate the growth of democracy in the country. 

Key Bilateral Issues Ahead

There are sensitive issues that should define the next phase of bilateral relations — border security, illegal migration, water-sharing of transboundary rivers (like the Teesta), and the safety of minorities.
The safety of the Hindu community especially is a closely watched issue. Just days prior to the elections, Susen Chandra Sarkar, a 62-year-old Hindu trader, was hacked to death in Mymensingh district. Authorities said they are conducting investigations.
India has previously expressed alarm about attacks on minorities in Bangladesh — describing them as a matter of grave concern.

BNP Victory in 2026 Elections

The BNP scored a more than two-thirds majority in the parliamentary elections. These elections were the first since the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after a student-led uprising of July 2024. Hasina fled to India after she was removed, and her party, the Awami League, was barred from the polls. 

According to the Election Commission, the BNP-led alliance won 212 seats, while the Jamaat-e-Islami-led coalition gained 77 seats. Hasina’s Bangladesh Awami League was barred from running in the national referendum.