Tariq Rahman | Image:AP
Bangladesh’s National Election 2026 is the best opportunity to change the dreadful atmosphere of anarchy and violence in the country. With this referendum, the future of the country will either be thrown into the fire of violence again, or after this election the countrymen will be able to see a peaceful and non-violent dawn.
If Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) wins this election, the country will write a new story with the return of Tariq Rahman. Rahman has returned after living in London for almost 20 years, and has replaced his distant exiled image with that of a front-runner ready to lead the country.
What will be the impact on India?
The BNP has an image as an enemy force in India because of its alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami from 2001 to 2006. According to many political experts, both the parties, BNP, which is now headed by Khaleda Zia’s son Tariq Rehman, and Jamaat-e-Islami have told the world that they want good relations with India, but on the basis of equality. However, both parties have demanded the return of Sheikh Hasina, who has taken refuge in India, which New Delhi has so far refused.
According to geopolitical experts, when BNP was in power, India’s relations with Bangladesh were not good. Although Jamaat has never tasted power before, this time it has got a big boost from student-led parties, which were not in favor of traditional family-led parties coming to power in the country after the July uprising. However, Jamaat has taken several positions in the past as well, which have mostly been against India. Therefore, many experts believe that BNP coming to power could be the best bet for India.
According to South Asia experts, sending Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar to Dhaka to express condolences on the death of Tariq Rehman’s mother Khaleda Zia was a step taken in the right direction.
Apart from this, in an attempt to start a new era of friendship with India, Rehman is adamant on issues like the agreement on sharing of Teesta river water. Rehman has promised to get a fair share of water from the Teesta and Padma rivers, calling it a matter of the country’s survival. Furthermore, Tariq Rahman has publicly declared that if BNP comes to power, Bangladesh will be a safe place for all religious minorities, and has emphasized that Everyone has a religion, but the country belongs to everyone.
What is written in BNP’s manifesto?
On 6 February, the party released its 51-point manifesto based on the principle of “Bangladesh First”. In this, issues like border firing, infiltration and agreement on sharing of Teesta river water on the issue of India have been mentioned. Despite this, according to Bangladeshi media reports, it has promised to build relations with its neighbors on the basis of equality, fairness, practical thinking and mutual benefit.
Where can the screw get stuck?
BNP’s victory can bring another big change in India-Bangladesh relations, the center point of which will be Sheikh Hasina. BNP is expected to sharply raise issues like resumption of SAARC summit and extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
It is not yet clear that if Tariq Rehman wins the elections, how will he handle Sheikh Hasina’s extradition and border security. Due to which this becomes an issue on which a tussle can arise between India and Bangladesh.
Let us tell you that Sheikh Hasina, who is currently living in New Delhi, has been sentenced to death in her absence by a special tribunal in Bangladesh for alleged crimes against humanity.
What makes this election special is that two strong leaders who have shaped the country’s politics since 1971, both Begum Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina, are missing from the political atmosphere of the country. On the day of voting, Hasina accused the Mohammad Yunus government of seizing power illegally and unconstitutionally. Their statement read, “On behalf of the people’s leader Sheikh Hasina, I thank all citizens, including mothers, sisters and minority communities, for rejecting the farcical election of the murderous-fascist Yunus.”
Also read: Sheikh Hasina’s first reaction as soon as voting for Bangladesh elections ended