Tarique Rahman India Visit: Bangladesh Says Timing Must Be Conducive
Bangladesh says Tarique Rahman’s India visit will happen when both sides agree on a mutually acceptable schedule amid efforts to reset bilateral ties.
Bangladesh has said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s proposed visit to India will take place when both countries agree on a mutually acceptable schedule. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said Dhaka was not rushing to finalise the trip and wanted the timing to be conducive for both sides.
India had invited Rahman to the BRICS summit in his capacity as chairman of BIMSTEC, while a separate bilateral invitation had reportedly been extended earlier. Rahman did not attend the summit, with Dhaka maintaining that the invitation was linked to Bangladesh’s role as BIMSTEC chair rather than his position as prime minister.
Kobir said Bangladesh preferred to develop its relationship with India through direct bilateral discussions rather than a multilateral forum. He described the current ties as a “working relationship” and said Dhaka wanted to reset relations around mutual interests.
India-Bangladesh ties have remained strained since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Bangladesh for India following the 2024 uprising. Dhaka has repeatedly sought her extradition and objected to her political activities from India.
Against this backdrop, Indian and Bangladeshi officials have continued diplomatic engagement. India’s High Commissioner held meetings with senior officials and political leaders, discussing bilateral ties, people-to-people relations, environmental cooperation and other areas.
Kobir also urged Bangladesh to move beyond what he called an excessive focus on India, saying Dhaka wanted positive relations with New Delhi while treating it as one of several important bilateral partners.
