New Delhi’s diplomatic stance on Bangladesh’s recent parliamentary elections has been crystal clear: true democracy demands fairness, freedom, and inclusivity. As the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured a resounding victory in the 13th parliamentary polls, former Indian High Commissioner to Dhaka Veena Sikri dissected India’s position in an exclusive interview.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi wasted no time congratulating BNP leader Tarique Rahman via social media platform X and followed it up with a personal phone call. This gesture underscored India’s commitment to engaging with the new leadership. Sikri emphasized that elections lacking these core principles cannot be deemed legitimate. ‘Elections must be free, fair, and inclusive to qualify as democratic,’ she asserted.
The interim government under Muhammad Yunus, which oversaw the polls, came under sharp criticism from Sikri. She described it not as a constitutionally elected body but as a mere ‘regime change operation.’ Over the past 18 months, the absence of the Awami League triggered relentless violence against religious minorities. Families have been shattered, properties looted, businesses destroyed, leaving communities in fear and despair.
Women faced particularly harrowing conditions, with widespread violence, restrictions on personal freedoms like attire choices, and harassment even for wearing bindis by so-called moral police. This atmosphere of uncertainty and resentment fueled demands for elections, yet Sikri argued they fell short of true inclusivity, rendering them unreliable. Western powers, she claimed, backed the process knowing Jamaat-e-Islami’s influence, funneled through Pakistan, was at play behind the scenes.
Sikri pointed to Jamaat-e-Islami as the real power broker, having reshaped democratic institutions by replacing judges, academics, and bureaucrats with loyalists. Vote engineering was rampant, propping up their hardline Islamist agenda. Yet, the BNP’s triumph, she viewed optimistically, as a rejection of extremism—a vote for moderate forces uniting against radicalism. Even demands for Sharia law were reportedly shelved under US pressure.
Reflecting on Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year tenure, Sikri praised her for respecting India’s security red lines, fostering economic ties that propelled Bangladesh’s growth. In contrast, Yunus’s regime strained relations with India, tanking the economy and breeding public discontent—factors that likely swung votes toward BNP.
India’s messaging has been consistent: advocate for democratic, inclusive processes. PM Modi’s congratulations to Tarique Rahman reinforced this, urging a progressive Bangladesh that lifts the ban on Awami League. With economic recovery now paramount, Sikri expressed hope for robust India-Bangladesh ties, as neighboring partnerships are vital for prosperity.