DHAKA, Bangladesh: Ali Riaz, special assistant to chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, has said participation of more than 50 political parties in the parliamentary elections reflects their enthusiasm, pointing out that New Delhi has not been able to recognize the change in Bangladesh.
Talking exclusively to Pakistan TV in Dhaka, Ali Riaz said the broad political participation demonstrates that Bangladesh is entering a new political phase following years without a credible electoral process.
He said many Bangladeshis had not previously had the opportunity to participate in a free and fair vote.
“So far the voters have been very much enthusiastic because they did not have an opportunity to participate in a free and fair vote,” he said, adding that nearly one-fourth of the electorate is under the age of 37, meaning they have never voted in what is widely regarded as a genuinely competitive election.
Ali Riaz went on to say that around four million voters are casting ballots for the first time, making this their “first test of democracy”.
With nearly 130 million registered voters, Riaz described the polls as one of the largest electoral exercises globally in 2026, saying that the elections follow a popular uprising that ended a 16-year autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina.
The special assistant said the elections offer an opportunity to establish an accountable democratic government, adding that proposed constitutional reforms placed before the electorate could usher in a more accountable governance structure.
He said the interim government had inherited a “hollowed-out” economy and focused on stabilizing it, leaving longer-term reforms to the next elected administration.
Ali Riaz was critical of Sheikh Hasina regime’s approach toward India, saying it was overly aligned with Indian interests.
He said the Indian establishment has not been able to recognize the change and accept the change in Bangladesh. “But this cannot continue. India will have to rethink its policies,” he added.
He said any incoming government would have to prioritize Bangladesh’s national interest in its foreign policy, stressing that relations should be based on mutual respect and benefit.
While acknowledging potential post-election challenges, including economic pressures and destabilizing forces, Riaz said he remains optimistic that a government emerging from strong voter participation would pursue accountable governance at home and a balanced, sovereign foreign policy abroad.
He further said the parliamentary elections represented both a democratic reset within Bangladesh and a signal to regional actors that the country is charting a new direction.
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