The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) believes relations with India are improving after the formation of an interim government following student-led clashes that led to the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
BNP, led by two-time former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, has been critical of policies pursued under Hasina's tenure, particularly agreements with India over the past 15 years.
In a significant move, Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka, Pranay Verma, met with BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to discuss enhancing bilateral relations.
Speaking to Indian wire service ANI, Alamgir said the meeting marked a positive step forward, with "ice starting to melt" between the two countries.
"India and Bangladesh have always had good relations, and this visit by the High Commissioner certainly marks a turning point," Fakhrul remarked. BNP, which boycotted the January 2024 parliamentary elections, has assured India that under a future BNP-led government, Bangladesh’s territory will not be used by separatist groups targeting India.
Discussions between BNP and India also covered issues such as water sharing, border killings, and trade imbalances. Fakhrul confirmed BNP's commitment to addressing security concerns raised by India, particularly regarding militant groups once operating from Bangladeshi soil.
The political landscape in Bangladesh shifted dramatically after weeks of student-led protests resulted in the ouster of Sheikh Hasina.
On August 5, Hasina fled to India, and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was appointed to lead an interim government. While the BNP is not part of this government, it is expected to be a key player in the next elections. BNP leader Khaleda Zia was released from jail the day after Hasina’s government fell.
Fakhrul emphasised the need for India to develop people-to-people relations and understand the pulse of the Bangladeshi population, cautioning against "putting all eggs in one basket" in its foreign relations. He noted that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s meeting with the interim government’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain at the UN General Assembly further underscored the potential for strengthened Indo-Bangladesh ties.
The BNP has also reassured the public about safeguarding the minority Hindu community ahead of the Durga Puja festival. Fakhrul stressed that recent incidents affecting the community were political rather than communal in nature, and the party has instructed its units to remain vigilant during the celebrations.
Looking ahead, the BNP is optimistic that Bangladesh will transition from the interim government to a democratically elected one soon.