Bangladesh–India relations show signs of a fresh reset as Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi engages Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Narendra Modi, while both sides seek stronger political, diplomatic and security cooperation ahead of a possible high-level visit and BRICS Summit.
Visible efforts are underway to strengthen Bangladesh–India relations anew, following the political and diplomatic distance that developed between the two countries over the past two years.
Alongside growing interest among the top political leadership of both countries, communication is also increasing at the foreign affairs, home affairs and security levels. A series of meetings and high-level visits in recent days suggests that Dhaka–Delhi relations are moving toward a new phase, according to diplomatic observers.
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi has emerged as a particularly notable figure in this process. On Monday morning, he met with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka. Immediately after the meeting, the Indian High Commissioner left Dhaka for New Delhi. The following day, Tuesday, he met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His meetings with the prime ministers of both Bangladesh and India within a span of just 24 hours are being viewed by concerned quarters as a significant diplomatic development.
In addition to meeting Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Trivedi also met with Bangladesh Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed on Monday. Earlier, on Sunday, he held a separate meeting with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman at the state guesthouse Padma. The sequence of these meetings has highlighted India’s direct engagement with key levels of Bangladesh’s political leadership, foreign policy establishment and security structure. In particular, the simultaneous increase in political and security-level communication is being viewed by diplomatic observers as part of a coordinated effort to rebuild bilateral relations.
Amid these efforts to reset relations, important information also emerged at India’s regular Foreign Ministry press briefing in New Delhi on Tuesday. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that India has extended two separate invitations to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. One is an invitation for a bilateral visit, while the other is an invitation to attend the outreach session of the 18th BRICS Summit, scheduled to be held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13. In diplomatic circles, the two invitations are being seen as an important signal of India’s desire to expand high-level political engagement with Bangladesh.
If Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman visits New Delhi, his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to be the most closely watched aspect of the visit. Following the tensions in bilateral relations, a direct meeting between the two leaders could play an important role in determining the future course of Bangladesh–India relations.
Participation in the BRICS outreach session could also create an opportunity for the two leaders to meet on the sidelines of the multilateral programme. If a separate bilateral visit takes place beforehand, it would carry even greater significance. In that case, Bangladesh–India relations would likely remain at the centre of the visit. Potential discussions could cover a range of important issues, including trade, energy, border management, water sharing, connectivity, visas, security and regional cooperation.
Political analyst Zahed Ur Rahman’s observation has also drawn attention in this context: “Friends can be changed, but neighbours cannot.” The statement reflects the reality that, given the geographical circumstances of the two countries, Bangladesh and India need to advance their relationship on the basis of mutual interests and cooperation.
The role of Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi has received particular attention in the emerging new equation between Dhaka and Delhi. Since his appointment, there have been indications that India is seeking to make political engagement with Bangladesh more active. His successive meetings with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the foreign minister and the home minister, followed by his swift visit to New Delhi, have led observers to view Trivedi as an active bridge between the political leadership of the two countries.
According to analysts, his political experience and high-level contacts could contribute to renewed political engagement between Bangladesh and India. The most important factor in rebuilding bilateral relations is the political interest of the top leadership of both countries. Since taking office, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has emphasized national interests, balance and mutual respect as key principles of Bangladesh’s foreign policy. At the same time, there are signs of an effort to advance relations with India on the basis of mutual interests and practical cooperation rather than confrontation.
On the other hand, diplomatic activities suggest that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also interested in establishing swift communication with Bangladesh’s new government. Soon after Tarique Rahman became prime minister, India extended an invitation for a bilateral visit. Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi has also emphasized the importance of direct political communication at the highest level. According to him, meetings between the leaders of the two countries could make it easier to find solutions to various unresolved issues.
Alongside political and diplomatic engagement, communication at the security level is also increasing. On August 9 and 10, Parag Jain, chief of India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), visited Bangladesh. His visit has brought attention to contacts between Bangladeshi security and intelligence officials and their Indian counterparts. As a result, the simultaneous increase in communication involving political leaders, foreign ministries, home ministries and intelligence agencies is being viewed by diplomatic observers as part of a broader effort to rebuild relations between the two countries.
Following August 5, 2024, political distance emerged between Bangladesh and India. Several issues—including Sheikh Hasina’s stay in India, the extradition issue, the border situation, trade and a crisis of political trust—created discomfort in bilateral relations. However, in recent months, both countries appear to be trying to move beyond those tensions and advance relations by focusing on broader bilateral interests.
For India, Bangladesh is an important neighbouring country along its border. Bangladesh holds strategic importance for India in terms of connectivity with the northeastern region, border security, trade, energy and the geopolitics of the Bay of Bengal.
For Bangladesh, maintaining an effective and stable relationship with India is also important, particularly in the areas of trade, energy, connectivity, border management and regional cooperation. Although differences remain between the two countries, there are also significant areas of shared interest.
If efforts to rebuild relations succeed on the basis of these common interests, Dhaka–Delhi ties could enter a new and more pragmatic chapter. The current diplomatic activities appear to indicate such a possibility. The key question now is whether the continuing high-level meetings and mutual invitations will ultimately translate into effective political dialogue and tangible bilateral cooperation.
Indo-Bangla relations: Eagerly waiting for a positive outcome
The Bangladesh Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon on Wednesday said they are eagerly waiting for a positive outcome in terms of Bangladesh-India relations. Minister Swapon referred to Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi’s meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Talking to reporters after a programme in the city, the Information Minister recalled what the High Commissioner said after his courtesy meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday. “There are no issues between the two countries that can not be resolved,” Swapon said, quoting the Indian High Commissioner. “We are eagerly waiting for a positive outcome,” he said.
The High Commissioner met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday and shared the message he carried from Dhaka after his three important meetings with the Bangladesh leadership.
Trivedi sought guidance from the Indian Prime Minister on further strengthening the multifaceted and enduring relationship between the two neighbours in a constructive manner with a people-centric approach, the source said. The High Commissioner is expected to return to Dhaka on Friday, a diplomatic source told Media.
Responding to a question during a regular briefing on Tuesday in New Delhi, Spokesperson at the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal said they had earlier in February invited the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to visit India.
“And, subsequent to that, we have also invited the Prime Minister of Bangladesh to visit India for the BRICS summit. On both these invitations, I will give you an update as and when I have,” Jaiswal said.
The Indian High Commissioner reached New Delhi on Monday after holding three meetings in Dhaka, which were seen as further consultations amid efforts to engage constructively to take forward relations between the two neighbours. He had separate courtesy meetings with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed at the Secretariat on Monday.
The High Commissioner also met Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman on Sunday at State Guest House Padma. During the courtesy meeting with the Prime Minister, Dinesh Trivedi conveyed greetings from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Tarique Rahman and the intent to work together with the government and the people of Bangladesh in a “positive, constructive and forward-looking” manner.
They exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and discussed avenues for further strengthening bilateral relations between India and Bangladesh with a people-centric approach.
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During his meeting with Home Minister Salahuddin, they discussed areas of common interest, including security cooperation between the two countries and ways to further strengthen bilateral relations.
The High Commissioner conveyed India’s willingness to strengthen people-centric cooperation in all domains, based on mutual interest, mutual benefit, and mutual sensitivities.
