Three Bangladeshi political figures—two from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and one from Jamaat-e-Islami — have won recent national elections despite previously facing serious criminal convictions, including death sentences. The development comes amid shifting political dynamics following the exit of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

The leaders—Lutfozzaman Babar, Abdus Salam Pintu, and ATM Azharul Islam—had been facing severe charges before economist and Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus returned from the United States and oversaw decisions that cleared them of all allegations. Their electoral victories now pave the way for their entry into Bangladesh’s parliament.

Babar and Pintu, both associated with the BNP led by Tarique Rahman, were previously convicted in cases linked to the August 21, 2004 grenade attack targeting Hasina. In December 2024, a Bangladesh High Court acquitted Rahman, Babar and others in the case, which had left 24 people dead. Babar reportedly secured his seat with a margin of about 1.6 lakh votes, while Pintu won by roughly two lakh votes.

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Pintu’s past allegations have drawn particular attention in India. He had earlier been accused of backing the Pakistan-based militant group Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI), which was blamed for several attacks in India, including the 2006 Varanasi court blasts, the 2007 Ajmer Sharif Dargah blast, and the 2011 Delhi bombing. All charges against him were later cleared.

The third winner, Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam, had been sentenced to death in 2014 over allegations related to killings during Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War and multiple rape cases. His acquittal and subsequent political comeback have also sparked debate within the region.

From India’s strategic viewpoint, the election outcome signals a significant political shift in Bangladesh. While New Delhi has had a complicated history with past BNP governments, officials are said to be cautiously optimistic about Tarique Rahman’s potential approach, viewing economic and regional stability concerns as possible drivers of pragmatic engagement going forward.

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