International
oi-Gaurav Sharma
Bangladesh is seeking to put an end to its troubled relationship with India. Dhaka wants to establish a new bilateral framework based on interests and direct dialogue.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir said Bangladesh wants to create a new relationship” with New Delhi and to avoid the political dynamics that characterized ties during the tenure of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
Bangladesh seeks to establish a new bilateral framework with India, prioritizing direct dialogue and mutual interests over past political dynamics, according to State Minister Humayun Kabir.
Kobir said the relationship with Hasina was uncomfortable’ and that future engagement with India should be handled mainly through bilateral talks and not through a multilateral forum.
“We want to move towards a new relationship, which should be done through bilateral discussions, not through a multilateral forum,” he told reporters.
His comments followed Bangladesh’s decision not to send Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to the BRICS Summit in New Delhi. Dhaka said Rahman was invited to the summit in his capacity as chairman of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), rather than as a personal invitation from Bangladesh as its prime minister. A separate bilateral invitation was apparently sent to him in February.
The episode has revealed the fragile state of India-Bangladesh ties which appear to have deteriorated significantly since Hasina was removed from power following a youth-driven movement in August 2024. Hasina has fled to India, where her continued presence is a source of significant disagreement between the neighbors.
Kobir also seemed eager to counter what he called Bangladesh’s excessive obsession with India. He argued that Dhaka should see New Delhi as one of several important international partners rather than allow India to dictate its foreign-policy considerations.
“We have to get out of the India fascination. India is just another country, and Bangladesh wants good bilateral relations with it,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dhaka is preparing for another major diplomatic engagement. Tarique Rahman is due to travel to New York on September 21 to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and is set to remain there until September 26.
When asked if Rahman could hold meetings with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the UNGA, Kobir said such meetings are often finalized at the last minute.
“He (Rahman) will have the main objective of addressing the UN General Assembly. The details of any other meetings will be announced later,” he said.
For Dhaka, the message is clear – relations with India remain a priority but Bangladesh wants to restructure its ties.
