Indian Diplomat Holds Talks With Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman on Bilateral Cooperation

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, met with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka on April 6, 2026, to discuss strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries. The meeting took place ahead of Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman’s visit to India later this week, which will precede his participation in the Indian Ocean Conference in Port Louis, Mauritius.

According to a statement from the Indian High Commission on X, “High Commissioner Pranay Verma paid a courtesy call on Hon’ble Prime Minister H.E. Tarique Rahman. They discussed bilateral engagement with a focus on people-centric cooperation in multiple domains aligned with the national development priorities of the two countries.” The statement added that India intends to pursue a “positive, constructive and forward-looking approach” in its partnership with Bangladesh, emphasizing mutual interest and benefit.

Sources in Bangladesh told NDTV that the meeting is being positioned as a foundational step toward a sustainable political and economic relationship at a time when global uncertainties, including the ongoing West Asia conflict, are affecting regional dynamics. Khalilur Rahman will be accompanied by PM Tarique Rahman’s adviser on foreign affairs, Humayun Kabir, during his Delhi visit. This will mark the first visit by a Cabinet Minister to India since the BNP Government assumed office in February 2026.

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During his visit to India, Khalilur Rahman is scheduled to meet National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, and Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. In an interview with Bangladesh Daily Prothom Alo, Rahman said, “We want a normal relationship with India based on mutual respect, dignity, and interests,” highlighting the priority of restoring stable bilateral ties.

India-Bangladesh relations have seen significant shifts since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in 2024. Under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus, ties deteriorated due to confrontations and Yunus’s pivot towards Pakistan, accompanied by anti-India rhetoric. The current BNP administration, under Tarique Rahman, is focused on normalizing relations through its “Bangladesh First” policy, which prioritizes national interests.

A key topic expected during discussions is the renewal of the Farakka Water Treaty, a 30-year agreement governing the Ganges water sharing at the Farakka Barrage, which expires this year. Bangladesh has raised concerns over reduced water flow and environmental impacts on the Sundarbans, particularly during peak dry seasons. Both countries are expected to explore ways to address these longstanding water-sharing issues while reinforcing long-term cooperation.

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