Tarique-Trivedi Meeting Tests India-Bangladesh Reset Amid Hasina Factor
Special Correspondent, Dhaka:
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi’s first meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman comes at a sensitive moment for India-Bangladesh relations, with both sides seeking to maintain dialogue while the continued presence and political activities of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in India remain a major point of friction.
Trivedi paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman at the Prime Minister’s Office at the Secretariat on Monday. The meeting, held at around 11am, focused on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest, according to Prime Minister’s Deputy Press Secretary Zahidul Islam Rony.
“It was a courtesy meeting. They discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and issues of mutual interest,” he said.
Although described as a courtesy call, the meeting carries added significance because it followed Sheikh Hasina’s recent media appearance from New Delhi. Her public engagement has renewed political sensitivities in Dhaka and added another complication to efforts by Bangladesh and India to improve their strained relationship.
Bangladesh had earlier objected to Hasina’s planned address from New Delhi and urged India to clarify its position. New Delhi, however, said the event was private and that the Indian government had no involvement in it.
The episode has highlighted the difficulty of separating Hasina’s presence in India from the broader bilateral relationship. Dhaka has repeatedly sought her return, while her continued stay in India remains a politically sensitive issue. Her recent public appearance therefore risks reinforcing mistrust at a time when both governments have an interest in stabilizing ties.
Against this backdrop, Trivedi’s meeting with Tarique Rahman provides an opportunity for the two governments to maintain direct communication and prevent political disagreements from dominating the entire relationship.
Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir were present at the meeting.
India appointed Trivedi, a former railway and health minister and veteran politician from West Bengal, as its 16th High Commissioner to Bangladesh in April, replacing Pranay Kumar Verma. He formally assumed office after presenting his credentials to former president Mohammed Shahabuddin on June 25.
Since taking charge, Trivedi has also met Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid.
The broader challenge now is whether Dhaka and New Delhi can keep their bilateral agenda focused on trade, connectivity, border management, water sharing, security and people-to-people ties despite political disagreements surrounding Hasina.
The Tarique-Trivedi meeting does not by itself signal a diplomatic reset. However, it indicates that communication channels remain open. The effectiveness of this engagement will ultimately depend on whether both sides can manage the Hasina issue separately from the wider relationship and make progress on areas of mutual interest.
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