<div style="text-align: justify; "><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; "><b>Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud today (June 05, 2024) congratulated the winning alliance led by BJP and the people of India for exercising their democratic rights in the just-held election in India.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Foreign Minister also congratulated the Congress-led alliance INDIA.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“We congratulate NDA, INDIA and the people of India for continuing the democratic trend. It’s an inspiration and example of democracy,” he told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while responding to a question.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Election Commission of India has declared results for 542 of the 543 Lok Sabha constituencies, with the BJP winning 240 seats and the Congress 99.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hasan said a new government will soon be formed in India and hoped that the relations between Bangladesh and India will reach to a new height with deeper cooperation and expansion of people-to-people ties.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Read more: PM Hasina to visit New Delhi June 21-22 and China July 9-12</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“This is the choice of the Indian people. The same alliance will be in power. Our ties will continue. Our relationship with India is based on the spirit of 1971 Liberation War and bonded through shared sacrifice and blood,” said the Foreign Minister.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He said opposition parties in India play a responsible role which is not seen in Bangladesh.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Responding to a question on the water-sharing issue, Hasan said the government of Bangladesh deals with the central government of India and they will continue discussion on fair share of water of common rivers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">“We have excellent relations with India. This special relationship cannot be compared to anyone else,” Hasan said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>