In post-Hasina era, the BNP’s rise has been meteoric. Once centre-right nationalist party is now steering towards centre-left politics, to capture void left by Awami League ban.
Things may not change overnight. The 2001-06 period, when the Jamaat was a coalition partner in a BNP-led government, was one of the worst for the India-Bangladesh relationship.
BNP claims Mohibuzzaman Kachi received fatal head injuries as he was pushed by Jamaat-e-Islami supporters when he tried to stop them from committing 'irregularities' at a booth.
For decades, an unwritten political equation has shaped Bangladesh’s electoral landscape: the party that secures a majority in the capital, Dhaka, often goes on to form the government.
Topics like India, Bangladesh’s foreign policy, women’s rights, and even the sticky issue of minorities were touched upon. One press conference was smoothly organised, other was chaos.
In the streets of Dhaka, BNP appears to have an edge. Tarique is the clear choice, Jamaat has a few takers, while National Citizen Party (NCP) has none.
Ahead of elections, Bangladesh Jamaat chief’s X post has backfired in a country where women outnumber men. Sadly, the debate may be happening a bit late in the day.
Bangladesh's largest Islamist party also pledges to include a 'significant number of women' in the Cabinet and speaks of achieving a $2 trillion economy by 2040.
Contrary to naysayers, the RSS practices what it preaches. It is closer to the Gandhian teaching of improving the individual morally and spiritually to change the external environment.
This is the game every nation is now learning to play. Some are finding new allies or seeing value among nations where they’d seen marginal interest. The starkest example is India & Europe.
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