Sheikh Hasina congratulates Suvendu Adhikari, praises his “strong and people-oriented leadership”

Former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday congratulated Suvendu Adhikari after he took oath as the Chief Minister of West Bengal following the BJP’s victory in the Assembly elections. In a statement issued hours after the swearing-in ceremony, Hasina praised Adhikari’s leadership and described the BJP’s victory as a reflection of public trust in him.

Sheikh Hasina stated that the people of West Bengal had shown “deep trust and admiration” for Suvendu Adhikari’s “strong and people-oriented leadership.” She extended her congratulations on behalf of herself and the people of Bangladesh and expressed hope that relations between Bangladesh and West Bengal would continue to strengthen under his leadership.

In her statement, Hasina referred to the shared cultural and historical ties between Bangladesh and West Bengal. She said the two regions shared a common language, culture and heritage and expressed hope that cooperation between them would continue in the future. She also stated that both sides should work together for the welfare and development of the people of the two Bengals.

Sheikh Hasina has been living in India since leaving Bangladesh in 2024 following large-scale unrest linked to anti-government protests over reservation policies in public jobs. Later, Bangladesh witnessed a political transition in which the Bangladesh Nationalist Party formed the government after the general elections held earlier this year.

Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the first BJP Chief Minister of West Bengal on Saturday at Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata. He was sworn in along with four other ministers in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, senior BJP leaders and chief ministers from NDA-ruled states. In the Assembly elections, the BJP secured 207 seats in the 294-member Assembly, ending the Trinamool Congress government’s tenure in the state.