After securing a sweeping win in Bangladesh’s 13th National Parliamentary Elections, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) chief Tarique Rahman outlined his government’s foreign policy priorities at a press conference, placing national interest at the centre of all decisions.
“The interests of Bangladesh and its people will determine our foreign policy,” he said in response to a question on ties with India.
Addressing supporters, Rahman added, “Freedom-loving pro-democracy people of the country have once again brought victory to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party,” before switching to Bengali. He reiterated, “We have cleared ourselves regarding the foreign policy which is in the interest of Bangladesh, and the interest of the Bangladeshi people comes first. By protecting the interest of Bangladesh and the Bangladeshi people, we will decide our foreign policy.”
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India- Bangladesh ties and the road ahead
Senior BNP leader Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury said the party would follow a multilateral approach rather than pursue a country-centric strategy. Rahman’s “Bangladesh first” line is expected to balance relations with India, China and Pakistan, while stressing sovereignty, strategic autonomy and mutual respect.
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Humayun Kabir, who oversees Rahman’s international relations and is expected to play a key role in the new administration, said the priority is to build a “stronger cooperation among our people”. He said that India will be one of the countries that “we will visit”, though no timeline was specified. “Obviously there are certain domestic priorities and then international engagements. Of course India will be one of the countries that we will visit, among other countries in the region,” Kabir said to NDTV.
India has described the return of an elected leadership as an “opportune moment” to rebuild ties. Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X (formerly Twitter) that he was “delighted to speak” with Rahman and congratulated him on the “remarkable victory”, reaffirming India’s commitment to peace and shared prosperity.
According to the Electoral Commission, the BNP won 212 seats, while the Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance secured 77.
