Following extensive preparations for a free and fair election, Bangladesh held a general election on February 12th amid a festive atmosphere. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) returned to power with a landslide victory. Led by party leader Tarique Rahman, the BNP won over 200 seats in the 300-member National Parliament (Jatiya Sangsad). Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh secured approximately 70 seats.

The Awami League, one of South Asia's oldest and most influential political parties, abstained from the electoral process. Its activities were banned by the interim government formed in Dhaka. Party president and former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina departed for India on August 5, 2024. Muslim-majority Bangladesh, with a population of 170 million, has been governed since August 8 by an interim government led by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus.

The 13th Jatiya Sangsad elections were held amid tight security arrangements and advanced technological monitoring. Nearly 60 percent of the 127 million total voters cast their ballots. This is considered an unusual but positive sign in Bangladesh's recent electoral history, as previous elections have been marked by extremely low voter turnout and controversy. This time, nearly 2,000 candidates, including 51 political parties and independent candidates, contested the elections.

A notable feature of the election was that for the first time in 35 years, no one died due to electoral violence on polling day. However, seven deaths were reported from natural causes around various polling stations across the country. A polling officer collapsed while on duty in Brahmanbaria, while a former BNP leader died in Khulna, and five voters died due to illness in Dhaka, Chittagong, Gaibandha, Kishoreganj, and Manikganj.

After voting concluded, several Indian media outlets praised Bangladeshi voters for preferring the relatively secular BNP over candidates with hardline Islamist stances. It is noteworthy that the National Citizens Party, formed by young people who led the anti-Sheikh Hasina movement during the July–August 2024 uprising, had formed an alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami in this election, but its performance remained limited to single digits.

The central government in New Delhi also maintained balanced and cordial relations with this party, known for its "liberal and democratic" image in Bangladesh. When Tarique Rahman's mother, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, was seriously ill, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi publicly expressed concern and offered all possible support, a gesture the BNP formally acknowledged.

Following Khaleda Zia's death, India sent its Foreign Minister, S. Jaishankar, to Dhaka. During his brief visit, he met with the bereaved family and delivered Prime Minister Modi's personal condolence message to Tarique Rahman. Narendra Modi subsequently became the first global leader to congratulate Tarique Rahman on his decisive electoral victory and expressed his desire to strengthen the multifaceted relationship between the two neighboring countries. On the ground, Tarique Rahman also maintained a restrained stance toward India and refrained from any anti-India statements or messages.

Critics argue that the election was not fully inclusive because the Awami League, the country's dominant political force before 1971, was barred from participating. However, the 2014, 2018, and 2024 general elections were marked by boycotts by the BNP and allegations of rigging by Awami League workers, resulting in extremely low voter turnout. Jamaat-e-Islami, once an ally of the BNP, has now emerged as the main opposition party in Parliament, paving the way for Islamic political forces to enter the mainstream.

The Bangladesh Election Commission and the interim government led by Professor Yunus thanked the voters and the general public for conducting the elections in a peaceful and festive atmosphere. Professor Yunus stated that the spontaneous participation of voters, the responsible conduct of political parties, the restraint of candidates, and the professionalism of the electoral process institutions demonstrate that Bangladesh's commitment to democracy remains strong. In contrast, ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called the elections a "farce" and demanded the resignation of the interim government and the holding of new, fair, and inclusive elections.

Hindu-majority India is concerned about the rapidly declining population of religious minorities in Muslim-majority Bangladesh. The Sanatani Hindu population, which was approximately 23 percent in 1947, has now fallen to less than 8 percent. Persistent violence, forced conversions, and religious persecution have persisted despite the change of rulers. Even during Sheikh Hasina's second term from 2009 to 2024, atrocities against Hindu families and their places of worship failed to fully stop, forcing many to gradually leave their homeland. Despite this, she portrayed herself as the victim in India, while the real victims were the Hindus of Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Modi's congratulatory phone call influenced perceptions of Bangladesh in India and impacted the country's media. This is a crucial time for Tarique Rahman—he must lead a country where anti-Hindu sentiments persist. Meanwhile, Sheikh Hasina, seeking temporary refuge in India, continues to make political statements, despite facing the death penalty in her home country. This situation appears to challenge India's spirit of goodwill toward the neighboring country's new government. Time will tell whether Sheikh Hasina is a courageous leader or an unwelcome guest for India.