China did not repeat what it did in 2014. That time it took them over a week to felicitate the new government. The election was held on Jan 5, 2014 and the then Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jun handed over Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang’s congratulation letter to Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque on Jan 12.
But, this time Chinese Ambassador Zhang Zuo within 12 hours of publishing the polls result reached Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to hand over the congratulation letters from Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Keqiang.
India is also one of the first countries to reach the government as its Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Hasina in the morning.
Former Foreign Secretary Md Touhid Hossain told Bangla Tribune, “Both the countries have lots of interest in Bangladesh. China has robust economic interest whereas India is very important for Bangladesh and Dhaka-Delhi bilateral relationship is different from any other relations that we have with other countries.”
The government is in comfort zone as the two big countries and economic powerhouse congratulated the prime minister, he said.
The former foreign secretary said, it is courtesy that heads of states and governments felicitate when somebody wins election and I think other countries including from Europe and Americas will send messages.
Former Bangladesh Ambassador to China Munshi Faiz Ahmed India and China are not worried about the difficulties and they think that business is as usual.
“They are happy to establish contact with the new regime as they want to continue the cooperation and take it further,” he said.
He hoped that other countries will also congratulate the new regime.
Munhsi, however, said there are others who will felicitate and also ask question, but China and India are not among them.
Meanwhile, an Indian High Commission press release said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has telephoned Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this morning to convey his heartiest congratulations on the decisive results of the election.”
Chinese envoy Zhang Zuo went to Prime Minister’s official residence Ganabhaban in the morning and handed over the letters from Chinese President and Prime Minister and presented her a crystal boat, the symbol of Awami League.
The 11th Parliamentary Election was held on Dec 30 when Awami League had a landslide victory as the grand alliance bagged 289 out of 300 seats.