New Delhi, Aug 14: India and Bangladesh are working to finalise an early bilateral visit by Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to New Delhi, with a possible visit before the end of August or in the first week of September, sources said.
The proposed visit, if finalised, would come ahead of the BRICS Summit scheduled to be held in New Delhi on September 12 and 13 and could mark an important step towards resetting ties between the two neighbours.
“India and Bangladesh are working to finalise an early bilateral visit by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to New Delhi — possibly before month-end, or in the first week of September, ahead of the BRICS Summit,” sources said.
The invitation for Rahman to visit India was first extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi following Rahman’s election victory in February 2026.
Rahman, who leads the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), returned to power after an 18-month interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus. His government’s formation has been accompanied by renewed diplomatic engagement with countries in the region.
Rahman had initially prioritised visits to Malaysia and China after assuming office, while Dhaka has also stepped up defence engagement with Pakistan, including high-level military exchanges and discussions over possible procurement of JF-17 fighter aircraft.
Against this backdrop, New Delhi has been seeking to strengthen engagement with the new Bangladesh government.
Sources said several issues could figure in discussions during Rahman’s proposed visit, including the renewal of the Ganga Waters Treaty and the possibility of reviewing trade restrictions imposed by India on Bangladesh in May 2025.
Rahman’s role as the current chair of BIMSTEC is also expected to add significance to his proposed Delhi visit. India, which is hosting the BRICS Summit this year, has invited Rahman to participate in the outreach session of the grouping in September.
The renewed diplomatic engagement has gathered pace in recent weeks.
India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, met Prime Minister Rahman in Dhaka earlier this month and conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Modi. The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation and improving people-centric bilateral ties.
Separately, Research and Analysis Wing chief Parag Jain led a four-member Indian delegation to Dhaka for consultations following an invitation from Bangladesh’s Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), according to sources.
The Indian delegation also met Bangladesh’s defence affairs adviser, Brigadier General Dr AKM Shamsul Islam, and the Home Minister to discuss regional security developments and institutional cooperation.
The proposed visit by Rahman is being seen as an opportunity for India and Bangladesh to address areas of friction and identify new avenues of cooperation.
Officials from both sides are currently working on the schedule, with the final dates yet to be announced.
