India signals business, people ties as core of Bangladesh relations

India has responded to recent diplomatic friction with Bangladesh by emphasising that economic and people-to-people ties must remain the foundation of the bilateral relationship. The signal comes after Bangladesh postponed a planned visit of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman over a political issue involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

At a meeting with Bangladesh's Minister of Commerce, Industries, Textiles and Jute, Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, said, "Let us have business-to-business ties together. Politics will continue in its own way. But business and what is due to the common man, giving that is our responsibility."

Trivedi stressed that both countries must work on an equal footing. "Bangladesh is a vibrant, sovereign, independent country. So is India. Nobody is big, nobody is small. All are equals, and we have to work on that footing," he said.

Responding to a question on the current state of bilateral ties, Trivedi said the real question is what common people want. "They want education, health, jobs, good roads and electricity. This will happen with business-to-business ties," he said, adding that officials from both sides should remain in regular contact.

The High Commissioner also highlighted the importance of economic development. "Nothing can happen without development," he said, noting that young people in both countries are talented and aspirational. "Fulfilling the aspirations of the young generation is our responsibility," he added.

Trivedi underscored the concept of interdependency as a permanent solution for the relationship. "I depend on you for development and you depend on me. And this dependency is a family," he said, with the Commerce Minister agreeing.

The focus areas, he said, are economy, peace, prosperity and demography. "When the economy moves ahead of politics, the politics follows behind," he observed, adding that peace and prosperity are responsibilities of both countries.

The comments come against the backdrop of Bangladesh placing the Sheikh Hasina issue at the centre of bilateral ties. Hasina, who was evacuated to India in August 2024, recently addressed the media at an event in New Delhi, leading Dhaka to postpone a planned visit. India, however, has made clear it does not consider Bangladesh's sovereignty any less important.

By shifting the emphasis to business and people, India appears to be seeking a pragmatic path forward, allowing political differences to be addressed separately while prioritising areas that directly affect ordinary citizens.