Bangladesh elections: What political parties promised on India, Hindus

With just a week left for the crucial Bangladesh elections, the first since the overthrow of Sheikh Hasina, the two major parties have outlined their future foreign policy and stance towards India if they form the government. For India, the stakes are exceptionally high, at a time when ties under interim chief Muhammad Yunus have hit an all-time low. Thus, the manifestos of the Tarique Rahman-led Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Jamaat-e-Islami hold significance for Delhi amid rising anti-India sentiment and attacks on Hindus in its backyard.

Over the past decade, India put all its eggs in the Awami League basket and cultivated close ties with Hasina, who fled to India in 2024 during the student-led protests. Hasina maintained a safe distance from Pakistan and walked a tightrope with China. The situation has taken a U-turn under Yunus, who has reset Bangladesh's ties with Pakistan and given political space to radical Islamist elements who have frequently spewed anti-India venom.

WHAT BNP SAID ON INDIA IN MANIFESTO?

Against this backdrop, BNP, which was headed by Hasina's rival Khaleda Zia before Rahman took over last year, is being seen by India as a more liberal and democratic option. Even though ties between India and the BNP have been historically rocky.

Unveiling the BNP election manifesto on Friday, with the tagline 'Shobar Aage Bangladesh' (Bangladesh First), Rahman pledged to treat other nations as friends, and not "masters". It suggests that Bangladesh won't be a proxy of any country.

Addressing a packed gathering in Dhaka, where he returned in December last year, ending a 17-year exile, Rahman said Bangladesh would establish relations with other nations based on equality and self-respect.

"Bangladesh shall not interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, and will not accept interference in its own affairs," he further said.

This is crucial, coming amid provocative remarks by Bangladeshi leaders on severing India's vulnerable Chicken's Neck corridor and the landlocked northeast region.

Last year, Yunus rankled India after he brought up India's "landlocked" northeast region during his visit to China. The Nobel Laureate claimed that Bangladesh was the "only guardian of the ocean" in the region, as northeast India was "landlocked". He also encouraged China to expand its influence in the region and boost its economy.

This was seen by India as infringing upon its internal affairs, which it vehemently opposes. Thus, Rahman's assurance in this aspect will be welcome by New Delhi.

In fact, on several occasions, Rahman has categorically made it clear that the BNP would not align with either Pakistan or India if it came to power. "Not Dilli, Not Pindi, Bangladesh before everything," Rahman had said.

WHAT JAMAAT SAID ON INDIA IN ITS MANIFESTO?

Even though Rahman did not explicitly mention India while releasing his party's manifesto, the Jamaat specifically talked of maintaining "friendly and cooperative" relations with New Delhi. Interestingly, there was no mention of Pakistan in its manifesto, released by its president, Shafiqur Rahman, on Wednesday.

"Peaceful, friendly. and cooperative relations will be built with India, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Thailand, based on mutual respect and fairness," the manifesto said.

The categorical mention of cultivating friendly ties with India marks a departure from Jamaat's earlier rhetoric. The Jamaat, which faced a crackdown during Hasina's regime and was banned, is largely seen as a stooge of Pakistan's notorious spy agency ISI. It even supported Pakistan during the 1971 war.

Even though the Jamaat manifesto skips any mention of Pakistan, the party has pledged to prioritise ties with Muslim-majority countries. It also talks about developing "constructive relations" with the US, the European Union, Japan, the UK and Canada.

Opinion polls have suggested a neck-and-neck contest, with a majority giving Rahman's BNP an edge. The Jamaat is close behind, boosted by victories in all the key student elections across five universities, including Dhaka University.

WHAT HAVE PARTIES SAID ON HINDUS?

As Bangladesh goes to the polls on February 12, global focus has been on the spate of attacks on minorities, especially Hindus.

In fact, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council has stated that 51 incidents of communal violence took place in December 2025 alone. That month, around 15 Hindus were killed or lynched amid growing anti-India sentiment following the killing of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi, a vocal critic of India.

As per the 2022 census, Hindus account for 8% of Bangladesh's total population.

Jamaat, whose leaders have been blamed for the rise in attacks on Hindus, has been silent on this aspect, particularly the safety of Hindus. The manifesto only promises representation for "religious and ethnic minorities". The ambiguity will be seen with concern in India.

The Jamaat has also pledged greater inclusion of women in governance and leadership -- a departure from its hardline stance. However, it remains to be seen how much is implemented on the ground if it wins the polls.

On the other hand, Rahman's BNP has pledged strict legal protections to ensure the safety of life, property, and places of worship for Hindus and minorities. The manifesto also promises government stipend and welfare programmes for leaders of all faiths.

"‘Religion is individual, the state is for all. Will ensure the right to perform religious rituals and celebrate festivals without any hindrance," the manifesto says.

Women's empowerment featured prominently in Rahman's 'Bangladesh First' manifesto. The BNP has promised to issue family cards in the name of the woman head of the household and provide free education up to postgraduate level.

The manifestos give political observers a glimpse into the priorities of the two parties that are set to lock horns on February 12. It is crucial for India as well. For New Delhi, Dhaka is not merely a neighbouring country. Bangladesh plays an indispensable role in border security and is a strategic counter-balance in the subcontinent against an assertive China and hostile Pakistan.