India, Bangladesh Explore November Window for Tarique Rahman's Delhi Visit

India and Bangladesh have begun discussions on a bilateral visit to New Delhi by Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, with both sides examining a window in the second half of November, as they work to steady a relationship that has been under strain.

The move follows the BRICS leaders' summit in New Delhi, which Rahman did not attend despite an invitation extended to Bangladesh as the current chair of BIMSTEC.

An earlier invitation for a stand-alone bilateral visit was sent after Rahman assumed office in February, following elections in Bangladesh. A proposed August visit did not go ahead. The postponement came amid anger in Dhaka over remarks made on August 5 by Sheikh Hasina, the ousted prime minister who has been living in India, during an interaction with the media via an audio link marking two years since the fall of her government.

Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi is understood to have initiated the renewed conversation in Dhaka and Delhi, and the two sides are weighing dates that would also suit Prime Minister Narendra Modi's schedule.

At the centre of the scheduling exercise is Dhaka's position that a "propitious environment" must be created for the visit — a reference to Hasina's presence in India and her public statements. Bangladesh has sought a clear response on the steps being taken regarding its request for her extradition, a matter on which Delhi has not yet replied. India has said the extradition request is "being examined", while stressing a forward-looking relationship built on mutuality of interests and reciprocity, and signalling that it intends to address broader bilateral and security concerns alongside Dhaka's requests.

A change of guard is also under way at the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi. High Commissioner M Riaz Hamidullah is expected to move to Geneva as Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to the UN, with Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam expected to succeed him. The formal paperwork is said to be in progress, as the official agreement requires approval from the Indian government.

Ties between the two countries were severely strained after Hasina's ouster in 2024 and had shown signs of improvement after Rahman took charge in February. Sources indicated that both sides recognise the significance of the visit and the benefits of a strong and robust relationship, even as negotiations continue to find a middle ground.