Indian Envoy calls on Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, conveys greetings of PM Modi on her election victory

India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, on January 8 called on Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. During the meeting, he conveyed the warm greetings of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India to Sheikh Hasina on her election victory, sources told the media.

Pranay Verma is the first envoy to meet Sheikh Hasina and congratulate her over her victory in the elections. He expressed hope that during the new term of the Awami League Government, there will be even stronger momentum and growth in the bilateral partnership between India and Bangladesh in support of each other’s national development, according to sources.

Indian Envoy Pranay Verma stressed that India will continue to support the people of Bangladesh in realising their vision of a stable, progressive and prosperous nation, guided by their long-standing friendship and inspired by their shared sacrifices in the Liberation War.

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina won the Gopalganj-3 constituency in a landslide victory, her eighth term as a Member of Parliament. Sheikh Hasina’s party secured victory in 223 seats to form the Government in the elections conducted on January 7. She received 249,962 votes, while her nearest rival, Md Atiqur Rahman, got 6,999 votes. Meanwhile, another candidate, Mahabur Mollah, received 425 votes. Sheikh Hasina has won the fifth term, which is also her fourth consecutive term.

On January 7 evening, Sheikh Hasina directed her party leaders, workers and supporters not to hold any victory procession after the announcement of the results. She also instructed them not to get involved in conflict with any candidate and his or her supporters after the announcement, Dhaka Tribune reported, citing Awami League Deputy Office Secretary Sayeem Khan.

Meanwhile, the Jatiya Party (JaPa-Ershad) received 11 seats, the Bangladesh Kallyan party won in one constituency, while independent candidates secured victory in 62 seats. Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal and the Workers Party of Bangladesh won one seat each, according to the report.

The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Jamaat-e-Islami and like-minded parties observed a strike across the country as they boycotted the elections.

(with inputs from ANI)