Kolkata, February 15 – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has sent flowers and sweets to Tarique Rahman after his party's landslide victory in Bangladesh's 13th national parliamentary election, sources in the state government said on Sunday.
Banerjee congratulated the citizens of Bangladesh, where she addressed BNP leader Tarique Bhai, and conveyed greetings to the neighbouring nation ahead of the holy month of Ramadan.
Banerjee called Tarique Rahman on Saturday evening and congratulated him on his party's victory, according to government sources. The details of the phone conversation are not known.
Sources said that the gifts were received by BNP media cell member Atiqur Rahman Ruman and other senior officials.
Earlier, Mamata Banerjee congratulated the party in a post on X, writing, "My heartfelt congratulations, Shubhonandan, to all my brothers and sisters, all the people, in Bangladesh. My advance Ramadan greetings to all of you. For this great victory, my congratulations to my Tarique-Bhai, his party, and all the parties. I pray that you all be well and happy. I wish that our relations with Bangladesh are always cordial."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also congratulated Rahman in a Facebook post, congratulating him for leading the BNP to a decisive victory.
"Delighted to speak with Mr Tarique Rahman. I congratulated him on the remarkable victory in the Bangladesh elections. I conveyed my best wishes and support in his endeavour to fulfill the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh," he posted.
"As two close neighbours with deep-rooted historical and cultural ties, I reaffirmed India's continued commitment to the peace, progress, and prosperity of both our peoples," PM Modi had said.
Voting in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election and referendum concluded on Thursday. On Friday, the Election Commission of Bangladesh announced official results for 297 of the 300 seats.
Of the 297 declared seats, the BNP and its allies secured 212 seats. The Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami-led 11-party electoral alliance won 77 seats, Islami Andolan Bangladesh secured one seat, and independent candidates took seven seats.