Special Correspondent, Dhaka:
India’s engagement with Bangladesh has gained renewed diplomatic attention following an unannounced visit by Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi to New Delhi, where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indian Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth amid efforts to improve bilateral relations.
Trivedi travelled from Dhaka to New Delhi on Monday night and met Modi at around 1pm local time on Tuesday, according to media reports citing diplomatic sources. The discussions reportedly covered Bangladesh’s position on a possible visit by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to India and broader bilateral issues.
Neither Modi’s office nor India’s Ministry of External Affairs or High Commission in Dhaka has officially commented on the reported meeting with the prime minister.
Later on Tuesday, Trivedi met General Seth, chief of the Indian Army. In a post on X, the Indian Army said their interaction focused on bilateral cooperation between India and Bangladesh and measures to strengthen defense ties.
The meetings come as Dhaka and New Delhi seek to rebuild relations strained by the political upheaval in Bangladesh in 2024, which led to the fall of the Awami League government and the departure of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina to India, where she remains.
The diplomatic engagement carries significance as both governments explore opportunities to restore confidence and establish a more stable framework for cooperation. However, progress will depend on addressing sensitive political issues and developing a mutually acceptable approach to bilateral relations.
Modi previously invited Tarique to attend the BRICS summit in New Delhi, but the proposed visit has yet to materialize. Trivedi has reportedly emphasized the need for thorough preparations before a meeting between the two leaders, indicating that both sides should avoid rushing the process.
The latest visit also follows an earlier trip by Trivedi to New Delhi on August 11, after meetings with Tarique and Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed in Dhaka. That visit was also reported to have involved conveying messages at the highest diplomatic level.
Separately, Bangladesh’s outgoing High Commissioner to India, Riaz Hamidullah, recently highlighted efforts to advance bilateral ties based on mutual trust, dignity, and shared benefits. Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar acknowledged his contribution and wished him well.
Although recent contacts suggest renewed diplomatic activity, a substantive improvement in relations will require sustained dialogue, practical cooperation, and progress on issues of mutual concern. The timing and outcome of a possible Tarique-Modi meeting could therefore become an important indicator of the direction of bilateral ties.
