Addressing a press conference, Rahman said, “We have made ourselves clear on foreign policy, the interests of Bangladesh and the interests of the people of Bangladesh come first.”
His comments come amid strained relations with India, as former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled to India in August 2024 after massive student-led protests forced her to resign. He has been living in New Delhi since then.
On Friday, the BNP demanded the extradition of Hasina from India to face trial in Bangladesh. BNP leader Salahuddin Ahmed said the party supports efforts to bring her back through diplomatic channels.
“The Ministry of External Affairs has already raised this issue, and we support it. We have continuously demanded her extradition as per the law. This is a matter between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries. We request the Indian government to send her back to Bangladesh for trial,” Ahmed said.
He added that Bangladesh wants normal relations with all its neighbors, including India, but on the basis of mutual respect and equality. “We want friendly relations with all countries, including India, based on mutual respect and equality,” he said.
Rahman, who has lived in exile in London for 17 years, has emerged as Bangladesh’s new political leader, with the BNP – founded by his father Ziaur Rahman – returning to power after two decades. The 60-year-old party leader won 209 out of 297 seats in the elections, while the right-wing Jamaat-e-Islami won 68 seats. Hasina’s Awami League was barred from contesting the elections, with a turnout of 59.44%.
The result marks a dramatic turnaround for the BNP, which faced constant political pressure during Hasina’s 15-year rule that ended in August 2024 after nationwide protests.
Rehman is the son of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and former president Ziaur Rahman, who founded the BNP and was assassinated in 1981. Returning to Bangladesh after years in exile, Rahman is now faced with the challenge of bringing about meaningful political and economic change and meeting the public’s desire for a decisive break from royalist politics.
Bangladesh
