Dhaka-Delhi ties regain momentum with renewed engagement

The relationship between Bangladesh and India appears to be regaining momentum, marked by renewed engagement from both sides after a period of sharp deterioration, with both countries now placing greater emphasis on dispelling “mistrust” and replacing it with a foundation of “mutual respect and mutual cooperation”.

Following the formation of a government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, renewed engagement between Dhaka and New Delhi has become increasingly visible, signaling a potential shift toward more constructive cooperation in the days ahead, a senior government official told UNB.

He said this re-engagement, following strained relations during the interim government, suggests a mutual willingness to reset the tone of bilateral ties, with both sides prioritising dialogue, economic collaboration, and regional connectivity.

“India looks forward to partnering with Bangladesh for advancing mutual progress and prosperity,” said Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh on Thursday, noting that the Bangladesh-India relationship rests on an enduring foundation of shared sacrifices during the Liberation War.

In the lead-up to the election, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar attended the funeral of late Prime Minister Khaleda Zia in Dhaka.

In Delhi, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Bangladesh High Commission to pay homage to Begum Zia.

Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha Om Birla and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri attended the new government's swearing-in ceremony in Dhaka.

Bangladesh High Commissioner to India M Riaz Hamidullah met Indian External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar at the Ministry of External Affairs in Delhi on 20 March.

Although it had been nearly a year since his posting, the meeting is seen as a positive signal toward greater engagement, a diplomat told UNB, adding that their discussions focused on advancing bilateral ties.

The meeting came amid Indian media reports suggesting that Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman is expected to make a brief visit to New Delhi in April, the first since the new government was formed.

“This is not yet finalised,” a senior official said, noting that both foreign ministers are scheduled to attend the 9th Indian Ocean Conference, to be held in Mauritius from 10-12 April.

The conference, organised by the India Foundation in association with the Government of Mauritius and India’s Ministry of External Affairs, will be held under the theme “Collective Stewardship for Indian Ocean Governance.”

It will bring together leaders, policymakers, and experts from across the Indian Ocean region to deliberate on shared responsibilities, cooperative frameworks, and the future of regional governance, organisers said.

Relations with the new government in Bangladesh are being seen as a “welcome change”, with both sides showing sensitivity to each other’s concerns and cautiously rebuilding ties for a stronger Bangladesh-India partnership, a diplomatic source told UNB.

During the interim government, he said, there appeared to be a “deliberate attempt” to derail relations with India, even as New Delhi sought to engage with the administration from the outset.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the first leader to congratulate former chief adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus.

A foreign minister-level meeting was also held in New York. Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Dhaka, and Prof Yunus and Prime Minister Modi met in Bangkok on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit.

The Indian side believes that members of the interim government used various opportunities to cast doubt on India’s intentions and promote a strong anti-India narrative.

Bangladesh High Commissioner M Riaz Hamidullah on Thursday said it was possible to chart a pathway toward “interdependent relations” for future generations in both Bangladesh and India, beyond differences and divergences.

Articulating the government’s vision of “Bangladesh First”, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman reiterated his commitment to maintaining a pragmatic, mutually respectful, and beneficial partnership with India for shared prosperity, he said.

“As we speak, both our countries are navigating complexities and uncertainties in the global order. While we foresee challenging times ahead, Bangladesh looks forward to working together to uphold the values of open regionalism and multilateralism,” the envoy said at a reception marking Bangladesh’s Independence Day in New Delhi.

Last month, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman conveyed to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi that Bangladesh attaches high importance to its relationship with India, a partnership shaped by shared history, culture, and geography. “Our two peoples share considerable commonality and enjoy deep-rooted ties.”

“As our government embarks on its mandate, we look forward to advancing our ties with India, premised on dignity, equality, mutual trust, and shared benefits. If Dhaka and Delhi address issues in ways that benefit ordinary people, there is much our two countries can achieve together,” Tarique said.

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Pranay Verma held a series of meetings with key ministers ahead of Eid, discussing bilateral relations and economic cooperation, including ways to strengthen transport, energy, and digital connectivity.

Both sides also explored new areas of collaboration in people-centric sectors aligned with their respective development priorities, based on mutual interest and benefit.

“To me, our ties go far beyond the 12 billion dollars in bilateral goods trade. Conservative estimates point to comprehensive economic transactions in the order of 28 to 30 billion dollars, minimum,” said Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah.

While the Indian High Commissioner said as two aspiring and forward moving societies, Bangladesh and India stand at the cusp of a new future where they can offer to each other and to the region, shared prosperity by working together.