India eyes Tarique Rahman's visit by early September

India and Bangladesh are holding intensive diplomatic discussions over a possible bilateral visit by Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to New Delhi, with India reportedly seeking to arrange the trip by late August or the first week of September, The Hindu reported.

According to the Indian daily, a visit by Tarique could provide an opportunity to reset strained bilateral ties and open discussions on issues including the renewal of the Ganges water-sharing agreement, energy cooperation, visa facilitation and the possible withdrawal of some trade restrictions imposed by India on Bangladesh in 2025.

The report said Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Tarique in Dhaka on August 10. A day earlier, a delegation led by Parag Jain, chief of India’s external intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), visited Bangladesh.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs has also confirmed that Tarique had previously been invited for a bilateral visit. Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman has separately confirmed the invitation.

Citing diplomatic sources in Dhaka, The Hindu reported that continued political activities by ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and members of the Awami League from Indian soil could complicate efforts to improve bilateral relations.

Indian sources, however, reportedly believe that allowing the Sheikh Hasina issue to dominate discussions could squander what they see as a fresh diplomatic opening between the two countries.

Diplomatic sources also said Dhaka appears more interested in a standalone bilateral visit by Tarique than in his participation in a BRICS summit. Bangladesh is not a BRICS member, making Tarique’s participation in the grouping’s main leaders’ session unlikely.

The report also cautioned that Awami League members are planning another gathering in New Delhi later this month, which some diplomatic sources fear could disrupt the positive momentum in India-Bangladesh engagement.

Relations between New Delhi and Dhaka have remained strained since the political upheaval in Bangladesh on August 5, 2024. A potential visit by Tarique, if confirmed, would therefore represent a significant diplomatic effort to rebuild ties and reopen high-level political engagement between the neighbouring countries.