Former Bangladeshi prime minister and Bangladesh Awami League president Sheikh Hasina on Saturday, May 9, congratulates Suvendu Adhikari after the victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the recently-concluded West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations and warmest wishes to Suvendu Adhikari on behalf of myself personally and the people of Bangladesh for the landslide victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections and for assuming office as the Chief Minister of West Bengal, India,” Hasina said.
She said that the verdict of the people of West Bengal is a “clear reflection of their deep trust and admiration for Suvendu Adhikari’s strong and people-oriented leadership.”
Hasina noted that the state holds a “unique place in the history of the sincere friendship between Bangladesh and India.”
“We share a bond rooted in common language, culture, and heritage, and I believe that under his leadership, this relationship will reach new heights in the future,” she added.
She went on to add that as neighbours the two countries have always wished for the prosperity and peace of West Bengal.
“I hope that the longstanding tradition of mutual cooperation between us will become even stronger during Suvendu Adhikari’s tenure, and that we will continue to work together for the shared development and welfare of the people of both Bengals. I wish Suvendu Adhikari and all members of the newly elected cabinet of West Bengal continued success, good health, and a long life. I also extend my sincere best wishes to all the citizens of West Bengal, she added.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Congratulations and Best Wishes from Awami League President Sheikh Hasina to Shri Suvendu Adhikari on Being Elected Chief Minister of West Bengal, India<br><br>I extend my heartfelt congratulations and warmest wishes to Shri Suvendu Adhikari on behalf of myself personally and the… <a href=”https://t.co/FXT3jF2i5O”>pic.twitter.com/FXT3jF2i5O</a></p>— Bangladesh Awami League (@albd1971) <a href=”https://twitter.com/albd1971/status/2053040267230630168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>May 9, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
Notably, Hasina has been living in India after she fled Bangladesh following the collapse of her government in August 2024 due to the massive anti-government agitation.
A few weeks ago, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that it was officially reviewing a formal request for the extradition of Hasina through established legal and judicial channels.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal’s comments came at a pivotal moment as India seeks to stabilise its partnership with the newly established government in Dhaka after the political shifts of the 2024 protests.
“The request is being examined as part of ongoing judicial and internal legal processes. We will continue to engage constructively on the issue with all the stakeholders. We follow all developments very closely,” Jaiswal said while addressing a weekly media briefing.
Notably, India first acknowledged receiving the extradition request in 2025.
Jaiswal emphasised that the process is bound by internal legal protocols. “I would also like to emphasise that the External Affairs Minister reiterated India’s desire to engage constructively with the new government and further strengthen bilateral ties,” Jaiswal added.
In July 2024, a student-led uprising ended the long-standing regime of the Awami League in Bangladesh. For now, the new leadership in Dhaka is under domestic pressure to bring Hasina back to face trial. However, New Delhi’s priority remains the “best interests of the people of Bangladesh,” prioritising stability and democracy in the neighbouring nation.