Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which registered a landslide victory in the recently held parliamentary elections in Bangladesh, is going to form a new government in the country on Tuesday (February 17, 2026). After the death of the country’s former Prime Minister and BNP chief Khaleda Zia, her son Tariq Rahman, who took charge of the party, is about to take oath as the next Prime Minister of the country, but just a day before his swearing-in, BNP has given a big statement regarding the extradition of former PM Sheikh Hasina and India-Bangladesh relations.
Relations between the two countries will not be affected: Alamgir
Senior BNP leader and General Secretary Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir clarified regarding India-Bangladesh relations that Dhaka’s relations with New Delhi are not limited to just one issue or any one issue cannot affect the relations between the two countries. He said that despite the presence of ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in India, it will not have a negative impact on the broader relations between the two countries.
The people of the country want Hasina to be punished: Alamgir
Speaking to The Hindu at the party headquarters in Gulshan, Dhaka, Alamgir said that the next BNP government will further strengthen the development partnership with India and projects in which Bangladesh has interest will be taken forward at a faster pace. He said that Bangladesh believes that Sheikh Hasina is accused of serious human rights violations and the people of the country are demanding her punishment. Therefore we believe that India should hand over Sheikh Hasina to Bangladesh.
However, he clarified that even if India does not hand over Sheikh Hasina, it will not affect the broader relations between the two countries, especially trade and economic cooperation. Emphasizing this, Alamgir said, ‘We want to build better relations with India. The relations between the two countries should not be tied to any one issue.
