New Delhi, India – Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's planned visit to India has been postponed, further exacerbating the growing tensions between the two South Asian neighbors since the student-led mass uprising of July 2024. That uprising led to the ousting of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is now living in exile in India. Since taking power in February this year, Tarique Rahman, son of the late Khaleda Zia, a fierce rival of Sheikh Hasina, has been attempting to improve relations with India.
However, a virtual press conference by Sheikh Hasina, who is living in exile in India, has become a source of discontent for Dhaka. The press conference, held on August 5th at the Foreign Correspondents' Club in New Delhi to mark the second anniversary of her ouster, was blamed by Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs for creating an 'unpleasant atmosphere'. Dhaka explicitly stated that a 'suitable environment' needs to be created for the Prime Minister's visit to India.
Currently, Tarique Rahman's visit to India appears uncertain. Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that officials from both countries have been engaged in discussions for 'several weeks' to find a possible solution. This diplomatic impasse highlights the depth and sensitivity of relations between the two neighbors, especially as the long-standing contentious issue of the former Prime Minister's presence in India remains unresolved between the two countries.
New Delhi had invited Tarique Rahman for a standalone visit this month, which was scheduled to take place before the upcoming BRICS summit next month. BRICS is a bloc of major emerging economies, currently chaired by India. Since Tarique Rahman took office, there have been several exchanges between top ministers and diplomats from both sides. India signaled the importance it attaches to this relationship by making a rare political appointment, designating its former minister and member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Dinesh Trivedi, as its ambassador to Dhaka.
Last Tuesday, Ambassador Trivedi urged the Rahman government, stating that the Indian mission was not asking Dhaka to 'forget the past,' which was an implicit reference to Sheikh Hasina's exile in India. He said, 'Hold onto the past and resolve past differences, but move forward. Don't remain stagnant.' At a reception hosted by the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, Trivedi further noted that Prime Minister Modi wished to make Tarique Rahman's visit 'memorable' and was keen to elevate relations between the two countries to new heights.
However, the visit plans fell through after Dhaka raised objections regarding Sheikh Hasina's virtual press conference on August 5th. India explicitly stated that it had no connection with the event and that it was a privately organized initiative, but this yielded no results. Both capitals are maintaining strict silence regarding Tarique Rahman's visit. When questioned about Rahman's visit, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, 'I have nothing to say at the moment,' indicating the current impasse.
Last Saturday, at an event, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stated that the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh must meet the 'test of mutual interest.' He emphasized, 'It must work for them; it must work for us.' Jaishankar further added, 'I must have a reasonable degree of recognition and respect for their interests, just as I expect it from them,' highlighting the importance of trust and understanding between both sides.
Meanwhile, Tarique Rahman's foreign affairs advisor, Humayun Kabir, informed a Bangladeshi news agency that there is no 'rush' within Dhaka to expedite the Prime Minister's visit. This comment suggests that Bangladesh remains firm in its stance and awaits further steps from India to normalize relations and improve the diplomatic environment. This impasse has raised questions about the future trajectory of relations between the two neighboring countries.
