PM Tarique Rahman Likely to Visit India Next Week

Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is expected to visit New Delhi in the second half of next week, with preparations reportedly underway in both Dhaka and Delhi, according to sources cited by NDTV.

If confirmed, it would be Rahman’s first visit to India as prime minister and could mark an important step in rebuilding ties between the two neighbours.

Rahman is expected to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the first time. Their discussions are likely to cover trade, connectivity, energy cooperation, border management and regional security.

The planned two-day trip is expected to focus on bilateral issues, although the final schedule is still being finalised. India had invited Rahman to visit shortly after he assumed office in February.

Key issues on the agenda

The proposed Modi-Rahman meeting comes amid strained India-Bangladesh relations since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024. Differences over Hasina’s presence in India and Dhaka’s extradition request remain major challenges.

Hasina has been in India since August 5, 2024, and Bangladesh has formally sought her extradition after a tribunal sentenced her to death over crimes against humanity. India has said the request is being examined through legal and diplomatic channels.

Water sharing is another significant issue. The 1996 Ganges Water Sharing Treaty is due to expire in December, making its renewal an important priority for Dhaka.

The two sides are also expected to discuss trade, transit, energy, connectivity and border management, as well as broader regional security and economic cooperation.

Recent diplomatic contacts indicate efforts to improve relations. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman visited New Delhi in April and met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, while Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi recently met Tarique Rahman in Dhaka.

If the visit proceeds as planned, Rahman’s trip could become the first major test of the new political relationship between India and Bangladesh, providing both governments an opportunity to address contentious issues while rebuilding bilateral engagement.