Iqbal Hasan Mahmud, a prominent member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), called for India’s unequivocal backing of democratic aspirations in Bangladesh. In an exclusive interview, Mahmud accused the ruling Awami League government of orchestrating violence and crackdowns against the opposition. He urged India, recalling its support in 1971, to speak out against the erosion of democracy in Bangladesh. Highlighting the recent U.S. stance on free and fair elections, Mahmud emphasized the need for India, as the world’s largest democracy, to support democracy in Bangladesh. The BNP leader portrayed a grim picture of the democratic situation, citing arrests and a deteriorating political climate.