Singh greets Bangladesh PM Hasina on assumption of office

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today congratulated Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina after she was sworn-in as Bangladesh's prime minister for the third time.
The Prime Minister has sent a message of felicitations to Hasina and also called her on the telephone this evening to convey his good wishes to her on assumption of the office of Prime Minister after the recent elections in Bangladesh, the spokesperson in External Affairs Ministry said.
"He wished her and the people of Bangladesh all success in the endeavour to strengthen democratic institutions in Bangladesh," he said.
Hasina's party Awami League clinched a landslide victory in the January five parliamentary election, bagging 231 seats in the face of a boycott by the BNP-led 18-party opposition alliance.

At least 21 people were killed in poll-related violence
Denouncing the bloodshed, India had said the polls were a constitutional requirement and the democratic processes must be allowed to take their own course in the country.
"Violence cannot and should not determine the way forward. The democratic processes must be allowed to take their own course in Bangladesh," it had said.