PM Tarique May Visit India Next Week, Modi Meeting Likely

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman may visit India towards the end of next week, with preparations reportedly under way in both Dhaka and New Delhi for the possible trip.

The visit is still under consideration, and no date has been finalised, according to reports citing sources in both countries. Bangladesh’s Foreign Ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office have yet to officially confirm the visit.

If it goes ahead, it would be Tarique Rahman’s first visit to India since becoming prime minister. During the possible two-day trip, he is expected to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bilateral talks.

The two leaders may discuss a range of issues of mutual interest, including trade, connectivity, energy cooperation, border management and regional security. The detailed itinerary has yet to be finalised.

India invited Tarique Rahman to visit after he assumed office as prime minister in February. New Delhi has also invited Bangladesh to the BRICS outreach session scheduled to be held in New Delhi in September.

A meeting between Tarique Rahman and Modi would be significant for Bangladesh-India relations, which have faced tensions since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government following the July 2024 uprising and Hasina’s subsequent stay in India.

The BNP-led government has expressed its intention to maintain constructive relations with India. Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman visited New Delhi in April and held talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar.

On August 10, Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Tarique Rahman in Dhaka. The meeting covered measures to improve bilateral relations, including Bangladesh’s request for the repatriation of Sheikh Hasina and the extradition of those accused in the murder of Sharif Osman bin Hadi.

Hasina’s extradition could be among the most sensitive issues in any high-level talks between Dhaka and New Delhi. She has been staying in India since leaving Bangladesh on August 5, 2024. Following her death sentence from the International Crimes Tribunal in a crimes-against-humanity case, Bangladesh formally requested India to return her.

New Delhi has said it is reviewing the request through established legal and diplomatic channels.

The two countries have also recently exchanged criticism over Hasina’s virtual address to journalists from India. Dhaka criticised the event, while New Delhi said it had played no role in organising it.

Beyond immediate political concerns, the possible talks could address longstanding bilateral issues, including trade, connectivity, energy cooperation, border management and regional security.

Water-sharing is also likely to feature prominently, as the 1996 Ganges Water Sharing Treaty is due to expire in December. Its extension or renewal is therefore becoming increasingly important for both countries.

A possible Tarique-Modi meeting could provide an opportunity for Dhaka and New Delhi to address immediate diplomatic tensions while advancing discussions on longstanding bilateral issues.