In a reaction from Dhaka, BNP Information Secretary Azizul Baree Helal expressed surprise at the scale of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) defeat in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections. He congratulated the Suvendu Adhikari-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on its victory, stating that the outcome could help maintain and strengthen relations between India and Bangladesh.
Teesta Agreement Hopes Revived
Helal specifically pointed to the long-pending Teesta Barrage agreement, suggesting that the political change in West Bengal may remove earlier hurdles and create momentum for progress on the issue. The Teesta water-sharing pact has been a contentious point between India and Bangladesh, with West Bengal's previous government opposing it.
Shared Interests in Regional Cooperation
While acknowledging ideological differences between BNP and BJP, Helal emphasized shared interests in regional cooperation and stable bilateral ties. He noted that both countries benefit from enhanced connectivity, trade, and security collaboration.
The BNP leader's comments come as Bangladeshi political circles closely watch the shifting political landscape in West Bengal, which shares a long border with Bangladesh. Analysts suggest that a BJP-led government in Kolkata could accelerate discussions on unresolved bilateral issues, including the Teesta water-sharing treaty and border management.
Helal's statement reflects a cautious optimism among some Bangladeshi political figures that the new administration in West Bengal might be more amenable to resolving longstanding disputes, potentially paving the way for deeper India-Bangladesh engagement in the coming years.
