Bangladesh Elections: Why India Watches Closely Amidst Geopolitical Shifts

• Bangladeshis vote for a new government today, 18 months after PM Sheikh Hasina fled amid protests.
• India is cautiously observing the elections due to potential impacts on New Delhi's interests and regional stability.
• The election is a direct contest between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a Jamaat-e-Islami-led coalition.
• Sheikh Hasina's Awami League is barred, raising concerns for India due to her strong pro-India stance.
• India is worried about potential weakening security cooperation, increased insurgency in the Northeast, and Bangladesh's growing ties with China and Pakistan.