Bangladesh’s newly-elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday (February 18, 2026) vowed to strengthen the rule of law and said his government will turn the country into a safe land for people of all faiths, regardless of party, opinion, religion, or ethnicity.

In his maiden televised address to the nation after assuming office, 60-year-old Rahman outlined his government’s priorities and said that improving the law and order situation and strictly controlling corruption to restore peace and security are his top priorities.

“We want to turn this country into a safe land for every citizen. Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Christians — regardless of party, opinion, religion, or ethnicity — whether living in the hills or the plains, this country belongs to all of us,” said the Prime Minister, who is also the chief of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).

“Whether you voted for BNP, or did not vote for BNP, or did not vote at all — everyone has equal rights over this government… As a Bangladeshi, every one of us has equal rights in this country, in this state,” he asserted.

His remarks about a pluralistic society assume significance as the Hindu population in Bangladesh has been affected by a series of attacks after the ouster of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024.

Under the interim government ofMuhammad Yunus since August 2024, the country has experienced a rise in mob violence, extrajudicial killings and attacks on minority communities, especially Hindus.

Rights group Manabadhikar Shongskriti Foundation (MSF) said that in January 2026 alone, they documented 21 incidents of lynching and 28 incidents of mob beatings.

The Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council reported 522 communal attacks in 2025, including killings, rapes, and temple vandalism, with murders of 116 people of minority faiths, mostly Hindus, between June 2025 and January 2026.

The reports suggested leaders and activists of the Awami League, disbanded by the Yunus regime, were the victims of most attacks.

India has been expressing concerns over attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh.

Earlier, the senior-most minister in the new government, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, said that the law and order issue was one of three priorities and the administration would take steps to end “mob violence”.

Alamgir, who is also the party’s secretary general and entrusted with the charge of the local government ministry, said, “This (mob violence) will be controlled.”

“We must strive to improve the law and order situation, regardless of how much it has deteriorated,” he added.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed also said, “The mob culture in no way can be tolerated.”

In his address, Mr. Rahman said every constitutional, governmental, and non-governmental institution will operate according to established laws and regulations.

“Not party or political influence or force, but the rule of law will be the final word in governing the state,” he said.

He said establishing a self-reliant, secure, humane, and democratic Bangladesh is the goal of his party’s government.

In his address, Mr. Rahman did not elaborate on his foreign policy. He, however, at the beginning of his speech, said that “in a Bangladesh freed from subservience, a new government accountable to the people through their votes has begun its journey”.

He said his government started its journey amid a fragile economy battered by corruption and misrule during the “period of fascism, a weak governance structure, and a deteriorating law and order situation”.

Mr. Rahman also extended his greetings to the people on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan. “If we truly understand the essence of self-purification, then this month should not increase people’s suffering,” he said.

On the supply of gas, water, and electricity during Ramadan, Mr. Rahman said he has already instructed the authorities concerned to ensure the civic amenities during iftar, tarawih, and sehri times.

Referring to his previous pledge that if the BNP was voted to power, the government would follow the ideal of justice of the Holy Prophet, he said, “I believe that this decision of the BNP parliamentary party reflects that very ideal of justice”.

Mr. Rahman said his government was determined to dismantle all syndicates of wrongdoing and irregularities in every sector but “protect the interests of both businessmen and consumers”.

Stating that Bangladesh was facing many challenges, Mr. Rahman said, “If we can transform our large population into a skilled workforce, then this population will become our human resource. If we can develop ourselves with skills, not only Bangladesh but also the global market will be open to us.”

He said the world is entering the era of artificial intelligence, and survival with dignity and prosperity in this competitive world requires expertise in specific fields.

He also assured students and youths that his government was ready to provide all possible support to help them develop intellectually and scientifically.

Mr. Rahman, 60, was sworn in as the 11th Prime Minister on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) after leading his party to a forceful victory in the 13th Parliamentary polls held on February 12. He replaced interim government chief Yunus.

Mr. Rahman, the son of the late President Ziaur Rahman and former premier Khaleda Zia, returned home in December after living in London in self-exile for 17 years.

Along with Mr. Rahman, 25 Ministers and 24 State Ministers also took the oath of office on Tuesday (February 17, 2026).

On the walls of Dhaka University, a slogan captures the political mood: “Delhi na Dhaka? Dhaka Dhaka.” The graffiti highlights the question — should it be Delhi [ruling] or Dhaka [ruling]?

The chant, which gained prominence during the July 2024 uprising that ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, targeted her government, accusing it of maintaining power with support from India.

With Ms. Hasina’s party, the Awami League, barred from contesting the February 12 election, the slogan and the sentiment behind it remain potent and have now been deployed as both shield and sword on the electoral battlefield.

As Bangladesh heads into a landmark election, anti-India sentiment is reshaping political discourse.

Out of race

With the historically dominant and India-friendly Awami League out of the race, the two main contenders, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Jamaat-e-Islami alliance, are locked in a fierce contest to weaponise “pro-India” sentiments, using it to discredit rivals before an electorate deeply disillusioned with what many see as decades of excessive Indian influence. Bijoy Talukder, an employee at a Dhaka-based consultancy firm who actively participated in the uprising and is voting for the first time, said the slogan helped unite protesters against the Awami League.

“We believe the party managed to stay in power with India’s all-out support. Now, in this election, major parties are accusing each other of being pro-Indian because they believe this label can still win or lose votes,” he said. “This slogan truly united us during the uprising. It was one of the most powerful chants against Sheikh Hasina.”

Political analysts say that being perceived as “pro-Indian” has become a political liability in Bangladesh.

While parties continue to pledge cordial relations with neighbouring countries, including India, they are simultaneously eager to portray rivals as aligned with New Delhi, calculating that such an image would hurt them among voters.

Dependent on Delhi

Ahsanul Mahbub Jubair, a central committee member of the National Citizen Party (NCP), formed by student leaders who spearheaded the uprising, told The Hindu Ms. Hasina’s administration was defined by exceptionally close ties with India across security, trade and transit.

“People believe she subordinated national interests to India. Her fall and subsequent flight to India reinforced this perception. India’s refusal to extradite her, despite the leader receiving a death penalty from a domestic war crimes tribunal in Bangladesh, has turned her into a living symbol of Indian interference,” he said.

“Most people believe India does not want what is best for Bangladesh,” he added.

“Sheikh Hasina stayed in power through three disputed elections with India’s support. Any party that takes decisions against Bangladesh’s interests will now be branded pro-Indian.”

The NCP leader, whose party has formed an electoral alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami, Bangladesh’s largest Islamist party, alleged that India is now attempting to cultivate ties with the BNP as an alternative to the Awami League. “With the Awami League gone, India wants to fill that vacuum,” he said. “That is why this discourse remains central to the election.”

Anti-Indian sentiment continues to shape campaign rhetoric across the country. Platforms that emerged after the uprising frequently invoke the slogan at rallies, often alongside leaders of major political parties.

The BNP and Jamaat are engaged in an intense contest of nationalist one-upmanship, each accusing the other of inheriting what they call the Awami League’s “Delhi-dependent politics”.

As polling day approaches, Jamaat-e-Islami, historically closer to Pakistan, which long opposed Ms. Hasina’s rule, has repositioned itself as a defender of Bangladeshi sovereignty. Its manifesto emphasises mutual respect and equal dignity in foreign relations, pointedly rejecting any special status for India. Its campaign subtly suggests that a BNP-led government would continue Ms. Hasina’s India-centric foreign policy.

On the other hand, the BNP, traditionally viewed as a centrist party, is treading carefully. Its manifesto promises an independent and balanced foreign policy, while party supporters frequently counter Jamaat’s allegations by highlighting its controversial role during the 1971 Liberation War, when it sided with Pakistan.

Take a page from India

M. Zakaria, an author and political analyst, said that even after the Awami League turned into an abandoned entity in Bangladeshi politics, the practice of blaming each other as pro-Indian remains.

This has turned into common rhetoric among the parties. The core reason behind this is the lack of careful nurturing of the people-to-people contact between the two neighbouring states, he said.

“Ironically, this has now turned into an obsession among Bangladeshi youth, becoming a tool for othering. One group in Bangladesh labels the other as ‘pro-Indian’ to engage in divisive politics,” Mr. Zakariah said. “In India too, we see anyone with opposing political views often being labelled as ‘Pakistani’ or ‘Bangladeshi’ and threatened with expulsion from the country. The phenomenon in Bangladesh is simply a reaction to that”.

Published – February 11, 2026 12:38 am IST

Bangladesh Nationalist Party chairman Tarique Rahman gestures to his supporters during the final day of an election campaign rally ahead of the national election, at Jatrabari in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on February 9, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairman Tarique Rahman addresses supporters, in Dhaka. File.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Acting chairman of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Tarique Rahman. File.
| Photo Credit: AFP

More than 150 students have been injured in Bangladesh during clashes at a university campus, a sign of serious discord between groups instrumental in fomenting a national revolution last year.

Tuesday (February 18) afternoon’s clashes began after the youth wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) sought to recruit students at the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology in the country’s southwest.

Also Read | Bangladesh’s student movement and Hasina’s exit

That sparked a confrontation with campus members of Students Against Discrimination, a protest group that led the uprising that ousted autocratic ex-premier Sheikh Hasina last August.

At least 50 people were taken for treatment after the skirmish, Khulna police officer Kabir Hossain told AFP.

“The situation is now under control, and an extra contingent of police has been deployed,” he added.

Communications student Jahidur Rahman told AFP that those hospitalised had injuries from thrown bricks and “sharp weapons”, and that around 100 others had suffered minor injuries.

Footage of the violence showing rival groups wielding scythes and machetes, along with injured students being carted to hospital for treatment, was widely shared on Facebook.

Both groups blamed the other for starting the violence, with the BNP student wing chief Nasir Uddin Nasir accusing members of Islamist political party Jamaat of agitating the situation to force a confrontation.

Jamaat activists “created this unwarranted clash”, he told AFP.

Local student Obayed Ullah told AFP that the BNP had defied a decision by the campus to remain free of activities by established political parties.

He added that there was “no presence” of Jamaat on campus.

The incident provoked outrage among students elsewhere in the country, with a protest rally held late Tuesday night to condemn the BNP’s youth wing at Dhaka University.

Students Against Discrimination launched protests last year that toppled Bangladesh’s former government and chased ex-leader Sheikh Hasina into exile after 15 years of iron-fisted rule.

Also Read | UN Human Rights Office report points out human rights violation under both Hasina and interim government

Activists from the BNP joined with student protesters in the final days of Ms. Hasina’s tenure, defying a bloody crackdown by security forces that killed hundreds.

The BNP is widely expected to win fresh elections slated to be held by the middle of next year under the supervision of the South Asian country’s current caretaker administration.

Student leaders have meanwhile struggled to parley their success in engineering Ms. Hasina’s fall into a durable political force.

Students from anti-discrimination movements and Bangladesh Nationalist Party activists attack an Awami League supporter in Dhaka, Bangladesh recently. File photo
| Photo Credit: AP

Bangladesh’s Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin has said that ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League may participate in elections unless the government or the judiciary issues a ban against the party.

Also read:Yunus consults political parties on India-Bangladesh relation, excludes Awami League and allies

The chief election commissioner (CEC) said this during a meeting with election officials at the Chittagong Circuit House on Monday, The Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.

Mr. Nasir Uddin also assured that the Election Commission runs with complete independence and faces no external pressure.

“We are committed to taking all necessary steps to ensure a fair and transparent election,” he added.

The CEC also acknowledged the issue of fake voters in previous elections and attributed a decline in voter registration to mistrust in the voting process. He announced plans to initiate a voter list update soon to address these concerns.

“The voter list will be updated within the next six months. This time, elections will not follow previous patterns. Since August 5, there has been significant progress in fostering national consensus on electoral matters,” he added.

During the meeting, the CEC provided detailed guidelines on voter list updates and preparations for the upcoming national election.

A few days ago, former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party said that Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus’ suggestion to set the minimum voting age at 17 would put pressure on the Election Commission and could delay the election process.

Mr. Yunus, 84, who was sworn-in to lead the interim government after the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina in August, had suggested that the minimum voter age should be lowered to 17 years.

During his Victory Day speech on December 16, Yunus indicated that elections might be held by early 2026.

“Broadly speaking, the election can be scheduled between the end of 2025 and the first half of 2026,” he said.

Mr. Yunus said that the elections would be held after updating the voters’ list.

Mohammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government. File
| Photo Credit: AP

Several political parties in Bangladesh on Wednesday (December 4, 2024) urged Chief Adviser Mohammad Yunus to hold early election in the country. The discussion between delegations of leading political parties and the Chief Adviser took place during a meeting that. Prof Yunus had called to to seek suggestion from political parties on how to counter what was described as “aggression against the nation”. The meeting however did not include the Awami League and its allies.

“Election has its own dynamics and announcement of election will activate public enthusiasm. That will be helpful for the country and that is why we raised the matter though it was not on the main agenda of today’s meeting with Chief Adviser,” said Amir Khosru Mahmud Choudhury, standing committee member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) to The Hindu over a phone call from Dhaka.

Also read | Bangladesh’s Yunus says no elections before reforms

Since taking power in August, Prof. Yunus has met with the political parties on multiple occasions but this is the first time that such a large meeting was held under the interim government. Prof. Yunus had promised to hold consultation with political parties for shaping the path ahead for election but it is not yet clear if a future election would include the Awami League and its allies who were in power till 5 August.

The meeting was called to seek suggestions from political parties about what strategy the interim government should adopt to steer Bangladesh-India relationship especially in the backdrop of vandalism in the Assistant High Commission of Bangladesh in Tripura’s capital Agartala.

“There is sustained propaganda on various media platforms of India that are very harmful for bilateral relation with India and we feel that a certain quarter in India that was the main supporter of the Sheikh Hasina government is unable to come to terms with the changes that have taken place in Bangladesh,” said Amir Khosru Mahmud Choudhury summing up the themes that were discussed in the meeting.

Also read | Hasina mounts stinging attack on Muhammad Yunus for current situation in Bangladesh

The meeting however gave a hint of the direction of the emerging outline of the party system as Wednesday’s meeting did not include the Awami League and its allies like the Jatiyo Party of the late General Hossein Mohammed Ershad. Following the meeting, adviser of law affairs Asif Nazrul said, the meeting did not include Awami League and its allies who he described as “fascist parties”.

“Apart from the fascist Awami League government and their allies, all political parties of Bangladesh participated in the meeting. There were difference of opinions among us but we were united in our approach to safeguard independence, sovereignty and honour of Bangladesh,” said Mr Nazrul who is widely regarded as one of the leading spokespersons of the interim government. Asif Nazrul alleged that anti-Bangladesh activities are being supported in India.

“The meeting condemned India’s attempts to establish cultural hegemony over Bangladesh and its economic harassment of our country. It also condemned India’s attempts to interfere in Bangladesh’s internal affairs. The parties urged the government to reveal all agreements that were concluded with India in the last fifteen years and cancel all those agreements that are harmful for Bangladesh,” said Asif Nazrul in a statement to the media after the meeting with the political parties.

Apart from BNP, Wednesday’s meeting included Jamaat-e-Islami of Bangladesh which was represented by its Ameer Dr. Shafiqur Rahman and Amaar Bangla party. Some of the parties suggested that the the interim government should create a public relation cell to counter India and constitute a special committee for the minority communities of Bangladesh.