For three decades, politics in Bangladesh revolved around the rivalry between the Awami League and the BNP. By pairing parliamentary elections with a referendum, Bangladesh acknowledged that electoral ritual without institutional trust is fragile. What unfolds in Dhaka will shape stability in eastern India and the balance of power in the Bay of Bengal. Pakistan and elements of its security establishment, including the Inter-Services Intelligence, have historically viewed Bangladesh as strategic terrain — a reality India cannot ignore. Bangladesh stands at a hinge moment in its political evolution.

Source: The Telegraph February 13, 2026 07:26 UTC