POBNEWS24, Dhaka Mar 16, 2026 : Dhaka-Delhi relations have improved after an acceptable free and fair election. There are signs of a change in the hostile relations between India and Bangladesh that existed throughout the interim government since the fall of the Awami League government in the mass uprising. Since the Tarique Rahman-led government took office, both countries have expressed their respective positions in favor of improving relations. Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman may visit India very soon to discuss the development of bilateral relations and important issues, according to the Foreign Ministry and diplomatic sources. New decisions may be made on complex issues of bilateral relations during this visit. The two countries have important issues such as trade barriers, security, Indo-Pacific, border killings, and push-ins.
According to ministry sources, work is underway on various aspects of Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman’s possible visit to India. The visit may take place within a month. However, no decision has been finalized. This will be his first visit to India after assuming office as a minister. It is believed that after this visit, the issue of visas to Bangladeshis in India may gradually normalize.
Several positive developments have taken place in the development of Bangladesh-India relations in the month since the current government took office. After a closure of almost two months, visas to Indian citizens have resumed from the Bangladesh missions in Delhi and Agartala. In the meantime, Major General Mohammad Kaiser Rashid Chowdhury, the head of the Directorate General of Defense Intelligence of Bangladesh, visited New Delhi. There, he held meetings with the heads of various intelligence agencies. Discussions were held in these meetings about normalizing relations.
Kolkata-Tripura transport through Bangladesh has also resumed on a limited basis. Indian police have arrested Faisal Karim Masud, the main accused in the murder of Inqilab Manch convener Osman Hadi, and his associate Alamgir. Efforts are being made to repatriate him.
India’s cooperation has been sought in dealing with the energy crisis due to the war situation in the Middle East. Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmud Tuku said that Dhaka has written to New Delhi seeking additional fuel oil through the pipeline. He said this after a recent meeting with Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma. India is considering Bangladesh’s request to supply diesel and refined petroleum products. In this regard, former Ambassador Humayun Kabir told this correspondent that a lot depends on mutual demand and supply. From our side, we want to normalize relations. India’s desire is the same. The situation is likely to be favorable. He said, we want our relations with India to be based on self-respect and equality. This is the expectation of a mass uprising. After that, solutions need to be found on the words that various politicians and ordinary people are saying. Among these are the issues of push-in of Indian citizens in Bangladesh, border killings and renewal of the Ganges Treaty. Initiatives are needed to remove trade barriers. The biggest issue is that diplomatic and political initiatives are needed to bring the rift in the trust between the two countries back to normal. Only then can relations be normalized.
Regarding this, since the announcement of the date for the parliamentary elections, India had said that India would work with the newly elected government. After the death of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar came to Dhaka on December 31 last year to pay his last respects to her. He handed over Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s condolence message to the then acting chairman of BNP Tarique Rahman. Two days after returning from Dhaka, he said at an event in Chennai about the current situation in Bangladesh and India’s relations with its neighbors, saying, “We hope that the situation will improve after the elections and good neighborly spirit will increase in the region.” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the newly elected Prime Minister Tarique Rahman after the 13th National Parliament elections. In the letter, he expressed his hope to further strengthen the multifaceted bilateral relations, increase regional cooperation and advance the common goals of the two countries in various fields including communication, trade, technology, education, skill development, energy, healthcare as well as culture and people-to-people exchanges. He said that as fast-growing economies, India and Bangladesh can be true friends for sustainable growth, security and prosperity.
On the other hand, the appointment of Khalilur Rahman, the security advisor to the interim government, as the foreign minister in Tarique Rahman’s cabinet, has brought the issue of strengthening Dhaka-Delhi relations to the fore again. Khalilur Rahman participated in the 7th session of the Colombo Security Conclave in Delhi, India, in November last year. Earlier, he participated in a bilateral meeting and invited Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to visit Dhaka.
After the new government took office, there is a clear sense of flexibility between the two countries. After taking office, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid said that the government will not take any decision regarding Dhaka-Delhi against the interests of the people. He said that there is no opportunity to avoid India. However, bilateral relations will move forward by ensuring mutual trust and interests.
