To Give Fresh Start To Ties, Bangladesh FM Visit Planned For Next Week

New Delhi: India’s security concerns, particularly with regard to rise in fundamentalism in Bangladesh post Sheikh Hasina’s government collapse, is expected to be on table for discussion when Bangladesh Foreign Minister Mr Khalilur Rahman visits New Delhi next week. Bangladesh FM’s visit to New Delhi is expected to help reset the ties between the two nations that remained frosty under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus for nearly two and half years.

To mark a new beginning in their ties, Mr Rahman will hold talks with External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar, Commerce minister Mr Piyush Goyal and National Security Advisor Mr Ajit Doval before traveling to Mauritius for Indian Ocean Conference. Bangladesh Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Advisor Humayun Kabir is likely to accompany Mr Rahman during his maiden visit to New Delhi under new regime, dates for which are yet to be announced. It is speculated that Mr Rahman’s visit will set the ground for a possible meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr Tarique Rahman in the coming months.

This will be the first official engagement between the two governments after Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) under Mr Tarique Rahman took charge in February. Though earlier chief of the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), Major General Mohammad Kaiser Rashid Chowdhury, travelled to India in what was termed as a “medical visit” during which he met NSA, R&AW chief Mr Parag Jain and India’s Directorate General of Military Intelligence Lt Gen R.S. Raman but the trip was kept away from public gaze.

India and Bangladesh are aiming to undo a whole lot of tough measures taken against each other under the Yunus regime. The rise of fundamentalists under Yunus and their open threat to India’s security system remains a major cause of concern for New Delhi. Under BNP, India is expecting a better understanding on terrorism related issues with Dhaka and this includes dismantling of all terror networks active in Bangladesh which have links to Pakistan.

For Mr Rahman, resuming trade ties is a priority which took a hit due to Yunus government’s anti-India policies. India last year restricted entry of ready-made garments, jute-based products (fabrics, twine, ropes, bags), fruits, fruit-flavoured/carbonated drinks, processed food items, cotton and cotton yarn waste, and plastic/PVC finished goods. These goods are allowed only through Nhava Sheva Seaport (Maharashtra) and Kolkata Seaport (West Bengal). India may also announce restoring visas of all categories for Bangladeshi nationals after the BNP government announced normalization of visa shortly after taking over apart from restarting the Maitri Bus between Agartala-Kolkata through Bangladesh.

“The Indian government has expressed its interest in renewing ties with Bangladesh. They have indicated that visa services will be normalized. I believe restoring visa policies is essential to facilitate business, trade, people-to-people contacts, and medical travel. They have assured us of this, and I am confident it will happen,” Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ms Shama Obaed Islam is reported to have said in Dhaka recently.

Extradition of Awami League leader and former Bangladesh PM Begum Sheikh Hasina is one of the thorny issues expected to come up for discussion since the BNP announced in its poll rallies that once in power, it will make efforts to bring her back to the country.

In addition, the renewal of 30 year agreement, Ganga Water Treaty, expiring in December this year, is also expected to be discussed briefly as a separate team has begun negotiations on it. The pact is on sharing of water at Farakka.

Enhancing India-Bangladesh defence cooperation is also one of the key agendas and to build up on that Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Mr Riaz Hamidullah, on Thursday, met Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi.

"During the interaction, they deliberated on enhancing bilateral defence cooperation, including joint training initiatives. They also explored opportunities for deeper collaboration aimed at promoting regional peace and security," the Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) of the Indian Army said in a post on its official X account.