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BNP: Back in power after 20 years

February 13, 2026 4 min read International Relations GS Paper 2 (India and its Neighbourhood International Relations)
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What Happened

  • The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won a landslide victory in the February 12, 2026 general election, securing 209 out of 300 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad (House of the Nation) with a two-thirds majority.
  • BNP leader Tarique Rahman, who returned to Bangladesh in December 2025 after nearly 17 years of exile in London, is set to become Prime Minister.
  • This was Bangladesh's first general election since the July 2024 student-led uprising (Gen Z revolution) that toppled the 15-year rule of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League.
  • An interim government under Muhammad Yunus administered the transition period between Hasina's ouster and the 2026 elections.
  • PM Modi extended congratulations to Tarique Rahman, and BNP has expressed interest in a relationship with India based on "mutual respect and equality."

Static Topic Bridges

India-Bangladesh Relations: Historical Trajectory

India-Bangladesh relations have been shaped by geographical contiguity, shared history (India's role in Bangladesh's 1971 liberation), and complex bilateral issues. Under the Awami League's Sheikh Hasina (2009-2024), relations were broadly cooperative, with agreements on border management, river water sharing, and connectivity. BNP historically maintained a more cautious approach toward India.

  • India shares a 4,096 km border with Bangladesh, its longest land border with any country.
  • Key bilateral issues include the Teesta River water-sharing agreement (pending since 2011), border management along the porous frontier, and illegal migration.
  • Under Hasina, India-Bangladesh cooperation expanded in areas of connectivity (rail, road, inland waterways), energy trade, and counter-terrorism.
  • BNP's Tarique Rahman has adopted a "Bangladesh First" approach, seeking relations based on mutual respect rather than perceived dependency.

Connection to this news: BNP's return to power signals a potential recalibration of India-Bangladesh ties, with the Teesta water-sharing pact, extradition of Sheikh Hasina, and border security emerging as early flashpoints in the new bilateral dynamic.

Political Transitions and Neighbourhood First Policy

India's "Neighbourhood First" policy, formalised since 2014, prioritises diplomatic, economic, and people-to-people ties with immediate neighbours. Political transitions in neighbouring countries have historically tested this framework, from Nepal's constitutional politics to Sri Lanka's economic crisis.

  • India engages with South Asian neighbours through multilateral platforms (SAARC, BIMSTEC) and bilateral frameworks.
  • India has provided development assistance, lines of credit, and humanitarian aid to Bangladesh worth over $8 billion.
  • Political transitions in Bangladesh have previously strained ties: the BNP-led government (2001-2006) was associated with a rise in anti-India militant activity from Bangladeshi soil.
  • India's approach typically involves engaging with whichever government comes to power while safeguarding core security and connectivity interests.

Connection to this news: BNP's decisive mandate, combined with PM Modi's prompt congratulatory message, suggests both sides are willing to explore a pragmatic working relationship, though the terms of engagement on sensitive issues like Hasina's status and water-sharing remain to be negotiated.

Democratic Transitions in South Asia

South Asia has witnessed several major democratic transitions driven by mass protests in recent years, including Sri Lanka's Aragalaya movement (2022), Pakistan's political upheaval, and now Bangladesh's Gen Z revolution (2024). These transitions reflect deep public discontent with democratic backsliding, economic mismanagement, and authoritarian consolidation.

  • The 2024 Bangladesh uprising was triggered by protests against a controversial job quota system and escalated into a broader anti-government movement.
  • Sheikh Hasina's government faced accusations of authoritarianism, including suppression of opposition, press restrictions, and controversial elections in 2014 and 2024 boycotted by opposition.
  • The interim government under Muhammad Yunus implemented electoral reforms before the 2026 polls.
  • Tarique Rahman had been convicted and sentenced in absentia during Hasina's government, convictions he maintained were politically motivated.

Connection to this news: The 2026 Bangladesh election represents a case study in democratic restoration following mass protest-driven regime change, with implications for understanding governance accountability across the South Asian region.

Key Facts & Data

  • BNP won 209 out of 300 seats in the Jatiya Sangsad with a two-thirds majority.
  • Tarique Rahman, 60, returns to active politics after 17 years of exile in London (2008-2025).
  • The Awami League under Sheikh Hasina was in power from 2009 to August 2024.
  • India-Bangladesh share a 4,096 km border, India's longest with any single country.
  • The Teesta water-sharing agreement has been pending since 2011.
  • Bangladesh is India's largest trade partner in South Asia, with bilateral trade exceeding $16 billion.
  • The July 2024 student uprising led to over 1,000 deaths before Hasina's ouster.