'During our liberation war, they supported us,' Sheikh Hasina's message to India amid polls

Bangladesh polls: As Bangladeshis began voting in the general elections 2024 on Sunday, January 7, incumbent Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that Bangladesh was lucky to have a neighbour like India as she referred to New Delhi as a trusted friend. Sheikh Hasina recalled how New Delhi played a major role in the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971, taking on the forces of West Pakistan. In her message to India, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said, “We are very lucky. India is our trusted friend. During our liberation war, they (India) supported us.Recalling the brutal assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman in 1975 which led to a long military rule in Bangladesh, Hasina said, “After 1975, when we lost our whole family, they gave us shelter. So our best wishes to the people of India."#WATCH | Dhaka: In her message to India, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina says, ''You are most welcome. We are very lucky...India is our trusted friend. During our liberation war, they supported us...After 1975, when we lost our whole family...they gave us shelter. So our… pic.twitter.com/3Z0NC5BVeD— ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2024 Bangladesh votes today Bangladesh began to vote at 8 am local time on Sunday which will continue till 5 pm. The election commission said it expected the results to start flowing from early on January 8.The general elections are expected to be won by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the absence of the main Opposition BNP which is boycotting it.Hasina, 76, has been in power since 2009 and her Awami League won the last election in December 2018. The BNP boycotted the 2014 election but joined the one in 2018.Sheikh Hasina to win 4th termPrime Minister Hasina's ruling Awami League is expected to win for a straight fourth time as the main Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) of former premier Khaleda Zia, 78, who is under house arrest as a convict of graft charges, boycotted the polls.The BNP is observing a 48-hour nationwide general strike which began at 6 am on Saturday and will end at 6 am on Monday.The 27 political parties that are contesting the elections include the opposition Jatiya Party (JAPA). The rest are members of the ruling Awami League-led coalition, which experts dub as "satellite parties." (With agency inputs)

Advertisement

'During our liberation war, they supported us,' Sheikh Hasina's message to India amid polls

Bangladesh began to vote at 8 am local time on Sunday for general elections which are expected to be won by PM Sheikh Hasina as BNP is boycotting it.

Advertisement