Sonia greets Bangla PM Hasina on poll victory

Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday congratulated Bangladesh Premier Sheikh Hasina on her party's landslide victory in the general election, two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first foreign leader to greet her on her success.

"The Indian Congress party leader greeted our premier on her party (Awami League) securing a landslide victory in the polls," Hasina's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim told PTI.

A foreign ministry spokesman, meanwhile, said External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also called her Bangladesh counterpart Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali and greeted him on his victory in the election.

"During the conversation, she stated that the Indian government would continue to cooperate with Bangladesh as a close neighbour," the spokesman said.

Modi was the first foreign leader to greet Hasina as he called her up soon after the unofficial results were declared on December 31 morning and assured her of India's continued support in Bangladesh's development.

"The Indian premier said Sheikh Hasina's victory was the reflection of Bangladesh's stunning development under her dynamic leadership", Karim earlier said.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb simultaneously sent their congratulatory messages.

The landslide installed Hasina for a third consecutive term as premier despite opposition allegations of rigging and violence on the polling day that claimed 17 lives.

The Chinese envoy to Bangladesh also conveyed to Hasina congratulatory messages of President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang on December 31 in which they expressed hope that Bangladesh to turn into a middle income country under Hasina's leadership by 2021.

The premier's spokesman said the Chinese leaders appreciated Hasina's leadership for the country's development and expressed hope that bilateral, strategic and mutual ties will continue during her new tenure.

Hasina's ruling Awami League and its partners in the Grand Alliance bagged 288 seats in the 300-seat parliament leaving just seven seats for the National Unity Front (NUF) with BNP as its main partner while independent candidates won in three constituencies.