India ready to rebuild relations with Dhaka

Contacts with Bangladesh’s newly elected political leadership have already begun, alongside initiatives to convene bilateral meetings across multiple platforms

India has signalled a clear willingness to rebuild and advance its relationship with Bangladesh in a constructive and pragmatic manner, indicating readiness to engage with a prospective new government led by Tarique Rahman if Dhaka outlines its priorities.

India’s Foreign Secretary, Vikram Misri, made the remarks during an interaction with a visiting media delegation from Bangladesh at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi this week.

“We are ready to engage positively with Bangladesh,” Misri said, adding: “If the new government wishes to put forward its priorities, we will sit with them.” He described India’s approach as “constructive, pragmatic and positive”, underlining New Delhi’s intent to move forward based on clearly identified areas of cooperation.

His comments come at a sensitive juncture, as Dhaka awaits New Delhi’s response to its request for the extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who has been in India since leaving office following a student-led uprising on 5 August 2024. When asked about the matter, Misri avoided a direct reply, reiterating only that India wished to “engage positively with Bangladesh to move forward in a constructive way”.

He noted that India had sought to maintain engagement with the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus, which assumed office on 8 August 2024, but described the period as a “testing time” during which meaningful engagement proved difficult. “We wanted engagement, but did not receive a positive response,” he said, adding that India had nonetheless attempted to sustain communication, including at senior levels.

Misri pointed out that India’s Prime Minister had met Yunus in Bangkok in 2025, and that he himself had visited Dhaka in 2024 as part of efforts to maintain continuity in bilateral ties. “From the very beginning, we said we are ready to work with the elected government,” he added, noting that contacts with Bangladesh’s newly elected political leadership have already begun, alongside initiatives to convene bilateral meetings across multiple platforms.

Emphasising the principles guiding future ties, Misri said relations between the two neighbours would be based on “mutual respect and shared benefit”. He added: “We are in favour of a relationship that is beneficial for both the people of Bangladesh and India,” stressing that cooperation should be people-centred and extend across multiple sectors.

On economic engagement, he indicated that both countries are interested in expanding trade, easing visa procedures, and advancing agreements such as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. “We believe both sides should work for the welfare of the people,” he said.

Turning to water-sharing issues, Misri highlighted the importance of longstanding arrangements, including the Ganges Water Treaty, which is due for renewal in December after nearly three decades. He said the accord has functioned effectively and would be renewed through established institutional mechanisms, noting that the Joint Rivers Commission is actively engaged in the process.

He also referred to the long-pending Teesta Water Sharing Treaty, which has remained unresolved for years. With the Bharatiya Janata Party securing victory in West Bengal, expectations have risen in Bangladesh that progress may be possible. The agreement had previously stalled amid objections from former chief minister Mamata Banerjee in 2011.

When asked whether the political shift in West Bengal could unlock progress, Misri declined to comment directly. “We have 54 shared rivers. Discussions on water management continue through the Joint Rivers Commission and technical committees,” he said, adding that such discussions would persist.

On visa services, Misri acknowledged disruptions in recent years but said steps were being taken to restore normal operations. “We have already increased medical visas,” he noted, adding that full visa issuance would resume “in the near future”.

Responding to allegations that India had supported the Awami League in controversial past elections, Misri rejected the claim. “We worked with the government of the day,” he said, adding that India had no role in any “election engineering”. He stressed that India respects Bangladesh’s democratic process, stating: “We expect the people of Bangladesh to choose their leaders.”

He also addressed remarks by Himanta Biswa Sarma concerning Bangladesh, which had drawn criticism, saying they were made in a specific context and should not be overstated in bilateral diplomacy. “Such internal political statements should not be magnified,” he observed.

On regional and strategic issues, Misri reiterated that Bangladesh, as a sovereign nation, is free to make its own decisions regarding international partnerships. However, he added that India would not favour arrangements with third countries that could adversely affect bilateral ties. “We respect Bangladesh’s sovereignty, but we hope no engagement will affect our relationship adversely,” he said.

Addressing energy cooperation, Misri said India remains committed to supporting Bangladesh despite challenges arising from tensions in the Middle East linked to the United States–Iran conflict escalation. “We import crude oil from around 40 countries,” he noted, adding that India had supplied diesel to Bangladesh during recent disruptions and would continue to do so.

He also dismissed as “fake news” reports in sections of the Indian media suggesting that authorities were considering releasing venomous snakes and crocodiles along the India–Bangladesh border to deter illegal crossings. “The report is not correct,” he said.

Misri’s remarks point to a broader recalibration in India’s approach towards Bangladesh as political dynamics evolve in Dhaka. While acknowledging past challenges, he repeatedly stressed India’s willingness to move forward. “We want to build a productive and pragmatic relationship,” he said, indicating that New Delhi sees scope for renewed engagement grounded in mutual interests and practical cooperation.