India ready to work with any govt emerging through inclusive polls in Bangladesh

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has reaffirmed New Delhi’s commitment to supporting free, fair, and inclusive elections in Bangladesh, saying India will cooperate with whichever government emerges through the people’s mandate.

“We remain ready to engage with any government that emerges from these elections with a popular mandate,” Misri said on Monday during an interaction with members of the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB), held at India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi.
The remarks come amid heightened regional and global attention on Bangladesh’s upcoming national elections, which are expected to take place around February 2026. Misri said India was “encouraged” by Dhaka’s own statements outlining a clear electoral timeline and expressed hope that the process would be peaceful, inclusive, and credible.
During the hour-long exchange, the Indian foreign secretary addressed a wide range of issues, including bilateral trade, border security, water-sharing agreements, and developments related to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been residing in India since the political unrest in Dhaka last year. He noted that differences between neighbouring nations were “natural,” but emphasized that the broader India–Bangladesh partnership remained strong and mutually beneficial.
The DCAB delegation, consisting of 23 senior diplomatic correspondents from leading Bangladeshi media outlets, is currently on a week-long visit to India at the invitation of the Indian government. Their visit includes meetings with Indian officials, think tanks, and development partners to strengthen professional and media-level engagement between the two countries.
Misri underlined that despite the political turbulence in Dhaka following the July–August 2024 crisis, India maintained regular communication and cooperation with the interim administration led by Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among the first world leaders to congratulate Professor Yunus upon taking charge,” he said, adding that both sides have since engaged in multiple rounds of dialogue on development and regional stability.
When asked about Pakistan–Bangladesh relations, Misri declined to comment, noting that India does not comment on Bangladesh’s ties with third countries. However, he reiterated that India views Bangladesh as a “trusted partner and close neighbour” with whom it shares deep historical, cultural, and economic linkages.