Narendra Modi wants good relations with Bangladesh: Indian High Commissioner

Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants good relations with Bangladesh, describing his first meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman as fruitful and stating that Bangladesh and India not only share a border but also share dreams.

"We are looking forward. Our invitation is there in place. We are positive that if the two leaders meet together, there will be discussion. There will be issues in democracies. It's not democracy if there is no issue. But there is only one people's issue, which is good relations. It's a win-win situation if there is a good relationship," he told reporters when his attention was drawn to the outcome of the meeting.

The High Commissioner said they met more as public figures.

"I am not a diplomat. It's like people's representative to people's representative. I am very delighted that we have met. I didn't feel that I met him for the first time. Very good, very humble, on the ground, what will be the discussion - people-to-people relations," said the Indian diplomat.

The envoy said there is no issue that cannot be solved. "I can tell you this confidently."

He, however, did not comment when asked whether the Prime Minister would be attending the BRICS Summit's outreach session next month in New Delhi.

The High Commissioner also met Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed after his meeting with the Prime Minister.

Despite brief tensions that surfaced between Dhaka and New Delhi following former prime minister Sheikh Hasina's recent speech in New Delhi, Bangladesh and India are heading toward renewed engagement, signaling their intent to take bilateral relations forward constructively.

Dinesh Trivedi, who submitted his credentials to the President on June 25, discussed issues of mutual interest in two separate meetings on Monday.

Ahead of his meeting with the Prime Minister, the High Commissioner met Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman at state guesthouse Padma on Sunday afternoon as both sides continue efforts to engage constructively.

Dhaka has reaffirmed its "Bangladesh First" policy and underscored its commitment to a forward-looking and mutually respectful relationship with India based on sovereign equality, mutual trust and understanding, and mutual benefit.

Bangladesh and India have more than forty bilateral mechanisms covering areas including water, trade, border management and consular issues.

India is willing to engage with the government in Bangladesh by gradually reactivating all the bilateral mechanisms, pursuing a relationship that keeps 'people at the centre' of everything, a diplomatic source told UNB.

On Sunday, the High Commissioner described Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as people's persons and expressed optimism that solutions to issues between the two countries could be found if the two leaders meet.

"We all respect him (PM Tarique Rahman) a lot. He speaks from his heart. I listened to his speeches many times…. He is a people's person, our Prime Minister (Modi), too. I think when two leaders meet, a lot of problems are sorted out. I have full confidence," he told reporters.

The High Commissioner said people are united and there will certainly be a solution. "I am very confident. There is nothing negative. Things remain positive."

On August 4, India confirmed that an invitation had been extended to Prime Minister Tarique to attend the BRICS Summit as the BIMSTEC Chair, while a separate bilateral invitation has been in place since February this year.

India will host the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on September 12-13, focusing on global cooperation, trade and sustainable development.

"You would be aware that a formal invitation to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit India was extended when he assumed office in February 2026," said Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal during a media briefing in New Delhi.

As far as the BRICS Summit is concerned, he said India has separately extended an invitation to the Bangladesh Prime Minister in his capacity as the current Chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) to attend the outreach session of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

"The invitation has been extended as per the standard practice being followed in BRICS for the outreach sessions. Other heads of regional groups have also been invited in a similar manner," the MEA spokesperson said.

BIMSTEC comprises seven countries in the Bay of Bengal region - Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

In April last year, Bangladesh assumed the chairmanship of the regional grouping for the next two years, reaffirming its commitment to advancing regional cooperation and development.

"We are reviewing it now. We will take a decision and inform you immediately," Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur told reporters on July 29 when asked about Bangladesh's response to the invitation.