Deposed Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina has congratulated the new Chief Minister of West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari. In a message issued via Awami League officials, Ms. Hasina said on Saturday (May 9, 2026) that Bangladesh always wished for prosperity and peace in West Bengal under the leadership of Mr. Adhikari.
The Awami League is banned in Bangladesh.
“The verdict of the people of West Bengal is a clear reflection of their deep trust and admiration for Shri Suvendu Adhikari’s strong and people-oriented leadership. West Bengal holds a unique place in the history of the sincere friendship between Bangladesh and India,” Ms. Hasina said in a statement.
The Bangladesh Awami League, in a separate statement, also expressed support for Mr. Adhikari. “Given the shared history, language, and cultural ties between Bangladesh and West Bengal, the party expressed firm belief that this new chapter will elevate those relations to greater heights,” it said.
The Awami League, which ruled Bangladesh for nearly 15 years, was banned during the interim government following a crackdown on civilians in the last phase of Ms. Hasina’s rule in July-August 2024. Earlier, in April, the new government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) formalised the ban by passing a resolution in the Bangladesh Parliament on April 8.
