New Delhi, February 13: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has achieved a significant victory in the country’s 13th parliamentary elections. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated BNP and its leader, Tarique Rahman, via the social media platform X, followed by a phone conversation with Rahman.
In an exclusive interview, former Indian High Commissioner Veena Sikri emphasized that elections cannot be deemed democratic unless they are free, fair, and inclusive. She remarked on the interim government led by Yunus, stating, “The elections were conducted by an interim government, which is not an elected body. This was merely a change of administration.”
Sikri noted the violence against religious minorities during the 18 months without the Awami League in power, saying, “People were genuinely terrified, facing violence and loss of property. The situation for women was particularly dire, with rampant violence and restrictions on their freedom.”
She added, “Women faced significant violence and were not safe anywhere. They were even restricted in their choice of clothing. This created widespread uncertainty and discontent in Bangladesh.” Sikri criticized the elections as not truly inclusive, despite Western nations promoting them, as they were aware of the Jamaat’s support behind the scenes.
Discussing Yunus’s tenure, she stated, “Jamaat-e-Islami has altered all democratic institutions to suit their agenda, leading to expectations of electoral success through extensive vote engineering.” Sikri views the election results as a vote against Jamaat-e-Islami‘s extremist ideology, uniting like-minded parties against it.
Reflecting on Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year leadership, Sikri noted that relations between India and Bangladesh flourished under her tenure due to her respect for India’s security concerns. However, she criticized the Yunus government for attempting to undermine this cooperation, resulting in economic downturn and public dissatisfaction.
Sikri concluded, “India has strongly advocated for democratic and inclusive projects. We believe that elections must be free and fair to be credible. Now that the elections have occurred, Prime Minister Modi’s message to Tarique Rahman is a strong endorsement of Bangladesh as a democratic and progressive society.” She expressed hope for strengthened cooperation with the new government, emphasizing the importance of economic improvement and regional relationships.
My name is Bhupendra Singh Chundawat. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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