The people of Bangladesh have at last entrusted power to the BNP, true heir to the 1971 liberation struggle, while Jamaat-e-Islami stood as its bitter foe. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to Tarique Rahman signals a hopeful overture, invoking the deep well of historical and cultural ties to wish for peace and prosperity. Yet this joy is fleeting, partial at best—for in the new parliament, Jamaat's 77 seats loom like barbed fruit: rigid, India-hostile, and tethered to Islamabad's shadowy ambitions.
Diplomatic Hopes and Hidden Perils
The BNP swept 212 seats, claiming a commanding two-thirds majority, even as it reiterated demands for Sheikh Hasina's extradition while pledging equitable ties with neighbors. The interim government's assaults on minorities—Hindus, Buddhists, Christians—have scarred New Delhi's heart. The BNP is expected to honor its manifesto by safeguarding them, but the ghosts of its 2001-2006 alliance with Jamaat whisper caution: promises gleam on paper, but harden into thorns in practice.
China's Belt and Road entanglement in Dhaka gnaws at India's unease, with Beijing eager to fortify its strategic grip. Can Tarique Rahman's BNP rein in Jamaat, or will it fan the flames of anti-India fervor?
The Diplomats' Cool Detachment
Veterans like Harsh Vardhan Shringla note that Bangladesh voted for pragmatic politics, yet the specter of sectarian extremism and Islamization lingers. BNP leaders like Salahuddin Ahmed back Hasina's arrest in principle but demur, calling it a matter for foreign offices—equanimity toward neighbors will prevail. Yunus's interim regime already strained ties; vigilance over the new one is imperative.
India's Path Forward
This is India's moment of trial. Modi's diplomatic gambit is deft, but Jamaat's muscle cannot be ignored. Press the BNP on minority protections, expanded trade, and curbing China's shadow. Let not the sacrifices of 1971 wither in vain—a neighbor's new dawn should illuminate our own, lest Jamaat's shade stretch long and dark. New Delhi must wield proactive diplomacy to cement Dhaka's friendship, before enmity takes root and blooms.
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Bangladesh Hands Power to #BNP: A Dawn Tinged with Thorns. Can #TariqueRahman 's BNP rein in Jamaat, or will it fan the flames of anti-India fervor?https://jameelblr.blogspot.com/2026/02/bangladesh-hands-power-to-bnp-dawn.html
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