New Delhi, August 21: A possible visit by Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to New Delhi is drawing attention as India and Bangladesh seek to repair relations that have been strained since the political upheaval that removed former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from power in 2024.
Indian media reports have suggested that Rahman could visit New Delhi between August 23 and 25 for his first official trip to India since becoming prime minister in February. However, Dhaka has not confirmed the visit. Rahman’s press secretary, A A M Saleh, said on Friday that no decision had yet been taken and that Bangladesh was awaiting India’s response on its request for the extradition of Hasina and other fugitives. India’s Ministry of External Affairs has also not confirmed the proposed dates.
The uncertainty highlights the difficult diplomatic ground on which the two neighbours are trying to rebuild their relationship.
Relations between New Delhi and Dhaka deteriorated sharply after Hasina fled to India following mass student-led protests against her government in 2024. She has remained in India since then. Bangladesh has repeatedly sought her extradition, while New Delhi has said it is examining the request under its legal procedures. Hasina has rejected the charges against her and described them as politically motivated.
For Rahman’s government, the relationship with India carries importance beyond the Hasina issue. The two countries share a long border and have close economic, geographic and security links. Trade, connectivity, energy, border management and regional cooperation are among the broader areas where sustained communication could be important for both sides.
India, meanwhile, has signalled an interest in maintaining engagement with Bangladesh. Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi has previously stressed the importance of dialogue between the two governments, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has indicated that Rahman’s visit should be a meaningful one.
The proposed visit also comes ahead of the BRICS summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi in September, adding a wider regional and diplomatic dimension to the discussions.
Whether Rahman travels to India in the coming days will depend on how the two governments address the outstanding issues. For now, the uncertainty itself reflects the state of India-Bangladesh ties: both sides have reasons to keep communication open, but several politically sensitive questions remain unresolved.
