India, Bangladesh Work Towards Ties Reset To Facilitate Tarique Rahman Visit

Amid efforts to schedule a November visit for Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to India, the two countries have stepped up engagements at the diplomatic level. India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, held a courtesy meeting with Bangladesh's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on Tuesday.

"High Commissioner conveyed congratulations on his assumption of charge as the State Minister. The discussion focussed on continued cooperation between the two neighbouring countries for mutually beneficial outcomes for the peoples of India and Bangladesh," the Indian High Commission in Dhaka said in a statement.

হাই কমিশনার শ্রী দিনেশ ত্রিবেদী ২৯ সেপ্টেম্বর ২০২৬-এ পররাষ্ট্র বিষয়ক মাননীয় প্রতিমন্ত্রী-১, জনাব হুমায়ুন কবির-এর সঙ্গে সৌজন্য সাক্ষাৎ করেন।

প্রতিমন্ত্রী হিসেবে দায়িত্বভার গ্রহণ করায় তাঁকে হাই কমিশনার অভিনন্দন জানান। আলোচনায় প্রতিবেশী এই দুই দেশের মধ্যে অব্যাহত সহযোগিতার… pic.twitter.com/oID85XwFiy

— India in Bangladesh (@ihcdhaka) September 29, 2026

 

Kobir reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to working with India in a forward-looking and mutually respectful manner on issues of shared interest and for the benefit of both peoples.

"They also discussed bilateral issues and regional and international developments, including the recently concluded 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York," news portal Bangladesh Sangbad Sanstha reported.

While Tarique Rahman has an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit India for bilateral talks, the visit has not happened because of niggling issues in the relationship.

While the Bangladesh Prime Minister is scheduled to visit a few countries beginning next month, the proposed bilateral meeting in New Delhi is more likely to happen in November after the country's newly appointed High Commissioner to India, Asad Alam Siam, settles into the role. Siam is expected to take charge next month.

India and Bangladesh had a close relationship until recently and the countries share a 4,096-km international boundary.

Tarique Rahman is preparing to visit three countries in October and November. He is scheduled to visit Japan and Saudi Arabia on bilateral visits, while he will travel to Turkey to attend the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), Bangladeshi daily Prothom Alo has reported.

Both Turkey and Saudi Arabia are members of the Mecca Pact, which Bangladesh is eager to join.

Meeting Delayed

Rahman was initially slated to visit India in mid-August with Dhaka and New Delhi discussing the specific dates, but that did not work out after Bangladesh took offence to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressing the media at an event organised by the Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia in New Delhi. While India clarified that it had nothing to do with the event and did not endorse the comments made, Rahman's aides advised him not to travel to India.

Some foreign policy analysts have said these developments indicate that the current dispensation in Bangladesh is not inclined towards a bilateral meeting with India but is focused on other countries. Others say that given the strained ties during the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, both India and Bangladesh are working towards ensuring the relationship is back on track before a high-profile bilateral visit.

In his first foreign visit after assuming the office of Prime Minister, Rahman visited Malaysia and China. Rahman also emphasised further expansion of bilateral trade, investment and development cooperation with China as its outgoing Ambassador Yao Wen paid a farewell call on him at his office on Monday.