With only a week left for the essential Bangladesh elections, the primary because the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina, the 2 main events have outlined their future international coverage and stance in direction of India in the event that they kind the federal government. For India, the stakes are exceptionally excessive, at a time when ties underneath interim chief Muhammad Yunus have hit an all-time low. Thus, the manifestos of the Tarique Rahman-led Bangladesh Nationalist Get together (BNP) and the Jamaat-e-Islami maintain significance for Delhi amid rising anti-India sentiment and assaults on Hindus in its yard.
Over the previous decade, India put all its eggs within the Awami League basket and cultivated shut ties with Hasina, who fled to India in 2024 in the course of the student-led protests. Hasina maintained a protected distance from Pakistan and walked a tightrope with China. The scenario has taken a U-turn underneath Yunus, who has reset Bangladesh’s ties with Pakistan and given political house to radical Islamist parts who’ve ceaselessly spewed anti-India venom.
WHAT BNP SAID ON INDIA IN MANIFESTO?
In opposition to this backdrop, BNP, which was headed by Hasina’s rival Khaleda Zia earlier than Rahman took over final yr, is being seen by India as a extra liberal and democratic choice. Regardless that ties between India and the BNP have been traditionally rocky.
Unveiling the BNP election manifesto on Friday, with the tagline ‘Shobar Aage Bangladesh‘ (Bangladesh First), Rahman pledged to deal with different nations as buddies, and never “masters”. It means that Bangladesh will not be a proxy of any nation.
Addressing a packed gathering in Dhaka, the place he returned in December final yr, ending a 17-year exile, Rahman stated Bangladesh would set up relations with different nations based mostly on equality and self-respect.
“Bangladesh shall not intervene within the inner affairs of different international locations, and won’t settle for interference in its personal affairs,” he additional stated.
That is essential, coming amid provocative remarks by Bangladeshi leaders on severing India’s susceptible Hen’s Neck hall and the landlocked northeast area.
Final yr, Yunus rankled India after he introduced up India’s “landlocked” northeast area throughout his go to to China. The Nobel Laureate claimed that Bangladesh was the “solely guardian of the ocean” within the area, as northeast India was “landlocked”. He additionally inspired China to broaden its affect within the area and increase its financial system.
This was seen by India as infringing upon its inner affairs, which it vehemently opposes. Thus, Rahman’s assurance on this side will likely be welcome by New Delhi.
In truth, on a number of events, Rahman has categorically made it clear that the BNP wouldn’t align with both Pakistan or India if it got here to energy. “Not Dilli, Not Pindi, Bangladesh at the start,” Rahman had stated.
WHAT JAMAAT SAID ON INDIA IN ITS MANIFESTO?
Regardless that Rahman didn’t explicitly point out India whereas releasing his celebration’s manifesto, the Jamaat particularly talked of sustaining “pleasant and cooperative” relations with New Delhi. Curiously, there was no point out of Pakistan in its manifesto, launched by its president, Shafiqur Rahman, on Wednesday.
“Peaceable, pleasant. and cooperative relations will likely be constructed with India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Thailand, based mostly on mutual respect and equity,” the manifesto stated.
The specific point out of cultivating pleasant ties with India marks a departure from Jamaat’s earlier rhetoric. The Jamaat, which confronted a crackdown throughout Hasina’s regime and was banned, is essentially seen as a stooge of Pakistan’s infamous spy company ISI. It even supported Pakistan in the course of the 1971 battle.
Regardless that the Jamaat manifesto skips any point out of Pakistan, the celebration has pledged to prioritise ties with Muslim-majority international locations. It additionally talks about creating “constructive relations” with the US, the European Union, Japan, the UK and Canada.
Opinion polls have urged a neck-and-neck contest, with a majority giving Rahman’s BNP an edge. The Jamaat is shut behind, boosted by victories in all the important thing scholar elections throughout 5 universities, together with Dhaka College.
WHAT HAVE PARTIES SAID ON HINDUS?
As Bangladesh goes to the polls on February 12, world focus has been on the spate of assaults on minorities, particularly Hindus.
In truth, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has said that 51 incidents of communal violence happened in December 2025 alone. That month, round 15 Hindus have been killed or lynched amid rising anti-India sentiment following the killing of scholar chief Sharif Osman Hadi, a vocal critic of India.
As per the 2022 census, Hindus account for 8% of Bangladesh’s whole inhabitants.
Jamaat, whose leaders have been blamed for the rise in assaults on Hindus, has been silent on this side, notably the security of Hindus. The manifesto solely guarantees illustration for “spiritual and ethnic minorities”. The anomaly will likely be seen with concern in India.
The Jamaat has additionally pledged better inclusion of girls in governance and management — a departure from its hardline stance. Nonetheless, it stays to be seen how a lot is applied on the bottom if it wins the polls.
Alternatively, Rahman’s BNP has pledged strict authorized protections to make sure the security of life, property, and locations of worship for Hindus and minorities. The manifesto additionally guarantees authorities stipend and welfare programmes for leaders of all faiths.
“‘Faith is particular person, the state is for all. Will guarantee the fitting to carry out spiritual rituals and have fun festivals with none hindrance,” the manifesto says.
Ladies’s empowerment featured prominently in Rahman’s ‘Bangladesh First’ manifesto. The BNP has promised to problem household playing cards within the title of the lady head of the family and supply free schooling as much as postgraduate stage.
The manifestos give political observers a glimpse into the priorities of the 2 events which are set to lock horns on February 12. It’s essential for India as nicely. For New Delhi, Dhaka shouldn’t be merely a neighbouring nation. Bangladesh performs an indispensable position in border safety and is a strategic counter-balance within the subcontinent in opposition to an assertive China and hostile Pakistan.
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 and the Jamaat. Both parties released their poll manifestos this week, outlining their stance towards India and Hindus.){kind=link}