Sheikh Hasina’s massive victory, changing equation with India and South Asia
Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League’s huge win in an election that would allow her to become PM for an extraordinary third traditional term. It is a key opprotunity for India to improve its Neighbourhood First Policy.
Hasina’s win in general election follows a decade in power in which she has been accredited with improving the economy and promoting development, while being suspect of rights abuses, a restriction on media and overpowering opposition.
An association led by Hasina’s Awami League won 287 of the 298 seats for which results have been declared. The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) won just six seats this time. Hasina is the longest-serving leader in the history of the Muslim-majority country of 165 million people.
PM Modi welcomed election results and within hours of declaration of formal results and extended a message of congratulations to Sheikh Hasina on becoming the first foreign leader to do so.
His statement sayd: “We welcome the successful completion of the Parliamentary elections in Bangladesh. India warmly congratulates the people of Bangladesh for reaffirming their faith in democracy, development and the vision of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,”
A faithful ally in Dhaka further supports Delhi against Pak Army & ISI’s designs to foment cross-border extremism in the region.Moving ahead, Bangladesh is exclusively positioned to take benefit of its place in the eastern region of South Asia. It will be a main point of different initiatives that seek to connect Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal with the ASEAN and other East Asian countries. With high trade and investments within the sub-region, Bangladesh can definitely benefit from new markets.
An important task for Hasina, after she takes over office, will be to increase the minimum wage for workers in Bangladesh’s garment industry, the world’s second largest after China.
