Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said India wishes Bangladesh well as it heads towards its upcoming elections, underscoring New Delhi’s emphasis on regional neighbourliness and shared growth.
Speaking at a programme titled the Shaastra 2026 Spotlight Lectures in Madras on Friday, Jaishankar said India’s growth should be seen as a “lifting tide” for the entire region, noting that neighbouring countries would benefit as India grows.
“If India grows, all our neighbours will grow with us,” he said, adding that such growth would create “many more opportunities” across the region.
Referring to Bangladesh, the Indian minister said the country is currently moving towards elections and expressed goodwill from India.
We wish well to Bangladesh on elections, says EAM Dr S Jaishankar pic.twitter.com/9O7m5ap7vd
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) January 2, 2026
“We wish them well in that election,” he said, adding that India hopes that once things settle, the sense of neighbourliness within the region will continue.
Jaishankar also highlighted India’s broader regional approach, pointing to the example of Sri Lanka’s recent economic crisis.
He noted that India was among the first countries to step forward to assist Sri Lanka, which, he said, demonstrated the effectiveness of India’s “neighbourhood first” policy.
Jaishankar emphasised that regional cooperation and mutual support remain central to India’s outlook towards its neighbours.
