OPINION: Can PM Modi’s invite to Rahman recalibrate India-Bangladesh relations?
India-Bangladesh relations: In an effort to normalise the relationship with Bangladesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently invited his Bangladeshi counterpart, Tarique Rahman, to visit India, along with his family. Will this large-hearted gesture by our PM ease tensions between the two neighbours?
In a letter to Rahman, PM Modi expressed his willingness to work closely with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader. The aim is to further strengthen the multifaceted bilateral relationship between the two nations.
PM Modi said that as close neighbours, both nations have a deep-rooted friendship founded on shared history, cultural ties, and the aspirations of the peoples for peace and prosperity. The PM stressed that the strong convergence between India and Bangladesh in respective developmental priorities shall serve as a guiding principle for “our future cooperation”.
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PM Modi, while congratulating Rahman on his electoral win, described the triumph as a reflection of the trust and confidence placed in his leadership by the people of Bangladesh. The mandate represented public support for Rahman’s vision of steering Bangladesh toward peace, stability, and prosperity, Modi said.
“I look forward to working closely with you to strengthen our multifaceted bilateral relations, enhance regional cooperation, and advance our common goals in wide-ranging areas of connectivity, trade, technology, education, skill development, energy, healthcare, as well as cultural and people-to-people exchanges. As two fast-growing economies and aspiring societies, India and Bangladesh can truly become catalysts for each other’s sustainable growth, work for each other’s security and enable mutual prosperity,” PM Modi said.
On Tuesday, Rahman took the oath as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh. This marked a fresh political chapter after nearly 18 months of uncertainty under the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus. The BNP swept to power with a two-thirds majority.
It is pertinent to mention here that though India in 1971 helped Bangladesh achieve its freedom from Pakistan, contentions between the two countries started from 1975 itself, when the Farakka Barrage dispute became the first major bilateral conflict.
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Sheikh Hasina in India
Recently, India’s stand to provide shelter to Sheikh Hasina following her resignation amid the student–people’s uprising in Bangladesh has become a flashpoint in the latest tensions.
The former Bangladesh PM landed in India on August 5, 2024, and arrived at the Hindon Air Force Base in Ghaziabad in a C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft following violent protests in Dhaka.
The Interim government of Bangladesh and the BNP have officially and repeatedly requested that India extradite Hasina to face trial for human rights violations and multiple charges of murder related to the 2024 mass protests.
India acknowledged receiving the requests. However, has not publicly committed to sending her back. Analysts suggested she will likely not be returned due to diplomatic considerations.
As of January 2026, the situation remained a significant diplomatic challenge for India-Bangladesh relations. However, with PM Modi’s invitation to Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman to visit India, strains are bound to ease.
Trade between India and Bangladesh
With PM Modi’s stress on “future cooperation,” the total annual trade between the two countries (which presently, reportedly, is roughly 13.51 billion) may rise further!
Interestingly, India exports far more to Bangladesh than it imports, resulting in a trade surplus for India in this bilateral relationship.
However, things will be clearer when Tarique Rahman visits India.
About the author: Anurag Sason is an Indian journalist with experience in mainstream journalism. He has worked in newspaper, news agency, TV, news app (short video sharing app) and digital media. He tweets at @AnuragSason
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