PM’s India visit likely in Nov
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is likely to visit New Delhi in November as Dhaka and Delhi have resumed official-level discussions to finalise the timing and agenda of his proposed bilateral visit, according to an Indian media report.
The Hindu, citing diplomatic sources, reported on Thursday that efforts were under way to find a “suitable window” in November for the visit after
the prime minister completes a series of international engagements.
The reported development comes amid renewed efforts by the two neighbours to reset bilateral relations following a period of political and diplomatic strain.
According to the report, officials from Bangladesh and India have been holding discussions in Dhaka to work out the agenda for the proposed visit.
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi has also held a series of meetings with senior Bangladeshi ministers and advisers in recent days.
The reported November visit would be Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s first bilateral visit to India since taking office.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs had earlier confirmed that Rahman received a formal invitation for a bilateral visit after becoming prime minister.
Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on 15 September that a separate invitation had also been extended to Rahman to attend the BRICS Summit in New Delhi as chair of BIMSTEC.
Rahman did not attend the BRICS Summit earlier this month. Dhaka maintained that the BRICS invitation was extended to him in his capacity as BIMSTEC chair rather than as Bangladesh’s prime minister, and indicated that his first visit to India should preferably take place as a dedicated bilateral engagement.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir subsequently said Bangladesh wanted to “reset” relations with India through direct bilateral discussions and build a relationship based on mutual interests.
“We want to move towards a new relationship, which should be done through bilateral discussions, not through a multilateral forum,” Kobir said at a briefing at the Foreign Ministry on 13 September.
The reported November visit could therefore provide an opportunity for the two governments to address several outstanding bilateral issues at the political level.
According to the Hindu report, the agenda under discussion includes the regularisation of bilateral trade, which has been affected by strained political relations, as well as the future of the Ganges water-sharing arrangement, due to expire in December.
The political context is equally significant. Relations deteriorated following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024 and India’s decision to provide her refuge.
Dhaka has repeatedly raised concerns over political activities involving the former prime minister from Indian territory.
At the same time, both sides have signalled an interest in maintaining engagement. India has publicly said it remains ready for a bilateral visit by Rahman, while Dhaka has stressed that it wants to establish relations with New Delhi on the basis of mutual interests and a more balanced approach.
The reported November timeframe would come after Rahman’s participation in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York later this month and other diplomatic engagements scheduled for October and November.
If confirmed, the visit could become a major bilateral diplomatic engagement between Dhaka and New Delhi and provide a platform for discussions on trade, water, border management, connectivity and other issues affecting the relationship.
For now, however, the November timing remains an Indian media report based on diplomatic sources, rather than a formally announced date by either government.
India’s foreign ministry said earlier this week that it had not yet received an update on Rahman’s proposed bilateral visit.
