Indonesia Welcomes Bangladesh Election, Eyes Closer Partnership

Jakarta: Indonesia has congratulated Bangladesh on the successful conduct of its general election and expressed hope for deeper bilateral ties and expanded cooperation for the benefit and prosperity of both nations, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry (Kemlu) said.

In a statement posted on its official X account @Kemlu_RI and monitored in Jakarta on Monday, the ministry extended congratulations to the government and people of Bangladesh on the orderly organization of the General Election.

“We commend Chief Adviser Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus for his leadership during the transitional period, as well as for the effective preparation and implementation of the election,” the statement said, referring to Muhammad Yunus, quoted from Antara, Monday, 16 February 2026.

The ministry expressed hope that Indonesia and Bangladesh would further strengthen their bilateral partnership and broaden cooperation across various sectors to promote shared prosperity.

Bangladesh held its general election on February 12. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by Tarique Rahman, secured 209 of the 300 parliamentary seats.

An alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami won 77 seats and is set to serve as the opposition. Meanwhile, the Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, was barred from participating in the election over allegations of human rights violations and anti-democratic actions.

The election outcome is expected to contribute to political stabilization following the removal of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during a student-led uprising in 2024.

Hasina fled to India in August 2024, after which an interim government was formed with Muhammad Yunus serving as chief adviser.