Dhaka-Delhi trust deficit stalls Tarique’s India visit
Graphics: Agamir Somoy
The dilemma over Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s Delhi visit persists, with Indian and international media citing 23-25 August as tentative dates.
However, Dhaka said it is in no rush regarding the visit. Rather, a decision on the Delhi visit may be made based on ensuring a favorable diplomatic environment and progress on the issue of extraditing ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.
In other words, this is no longer simply a matter of scheduling a PM’s visit to a neighboring country; it has become intertwined with a new equation in Dhaka-Delhi relations, a mutual trust deficit, and the question of altering the structure of past relations.
Discussions have been ongoing between the two countries for several weeks regarding Tarique’s first visit to India, six months after taking office following his victory in the 13th Parliamentary Election in February 2026.
Immediately after he assumed the office, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government invited him for a bilateral visit. He has also been invited to the outreach session of the BRICS Summit scheduled to be held in Delhi in September, in his capacity as the chairman of BIMSTEC.
However, despite the invitations, the path to the visit has not been smooth. Dhaka indicated that a more favorable diplomatic environment is required for the Prime Minister’s visit. Bangladesh’s message is also quite clear - Dhaka is no longer in its previous position.
Bangladesh-India relations must be based on equal status, mutual interest, and mutual respect. The relationship should not be with any specific political party or government, but must be built between the two nations and the peoples of the two countries.
Meanwhile, the question of Hasina’s extradition has come to the forefront. After being ousted in the July mass uprising 2024, she took refuge in India. Bangladesh said the matter of returning her is also an important part of the discussions with Delhi.
As a result, at the center of the uncertainty surrounding Tarique’s visit, it is no longer just a diplomatic schedule, but a question of political trust that has loomed large. Delhi is also trying to ascertain whether Tarique’s visit is stalled solely over the Hasina issue, or if other factors are at play as influencers.
On the other hand, Dhaka also questions whether India is still clinging to old ideas regarding its relationship with Bangladesh, or if it wants to move forward with new vigor in a new reality, leaving past calculations behind.
Recently, Tarique’s Information Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman said in an interview Bangladesh has never said the PM will not visit Delhi. However, both countries are identifying and trying to resolve the crisis that has emerged regarding the visit.
In his words, the core message Bangladesh wants to give India is, “Bangladesh is no longer in its previous place. The sooner India understands and accepts this changed Bangladesh, the better it will be for both countries.”
Statements made by Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman in the first week of August also indicated that Dhaka is prioritizing a bilateral visit over the BRICS event. Until 14 August, diplomatic and political sources in both countries were also mentioning 22 or 23 August as possible dates.
Although 23 to 25 August is being heard in the Indian media, no clear assurance has come from Dhaka’s side.
According to many who work on Dhaka-Delhi relations, both sides are currently standing firm on their respective positions, attempting to secure their own interests by exerting pressure on the other side. Behind this lies a deficit in mutual trust. Unless this trust deficit is resolved, simply organizing a visit will not untangle all the knots in the relationship.
Speaking on the uncertainty surrounding Tarique’s Delhi visit, former diplomat Sakib Ali said, “For a long time, there was a kind of imbalance or one-sided stance in the relationship between the two countries, to which India had perhaps become quite accustomed.
“Now, Bangladesh is speaking of some new expectations and conditions regarding the relationship. As a result, those may seem new and somewhat unexpected to Delhi. Rather than prolonging the stalemate surrounding the visit, a way must be found to move discussions forward in a simpler and more effective manner.”
Dinesh Trivedi, the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, added that the PM’s visit to India should take place very soon and many of the existing problems between the two countries can be resolved through high-level meetings and discussions.
