Indian Envoy Hopeful of Bangladesh PM's Early Visit, Stresses Dialogue on Bilateral Issues
Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi on Sunday expressed hope that Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's visit to India will take place "much sooner", and emphasised that differences between the two neighbours can only be resolved through dialogue.
Speaking at a welcome dinner hosted by Masud Jamil Khan, Consul of Ireland in Bangladesh, and his wife Kate Jaro Khan in Dhaka, Mr. Trivedi stressed the importance of direct communication in addressing bilateral issues. "We have our challenges. There is no doubt about it. And if you do not have challenges, that is not democracy," he said, adding that India and Bangladesh not merely share a border but also "share a dream".
His remarks come amid uncertainty over Mr. Rahman's proposed visit to India for the BRICS summit scheduled for September 12-13, with fresh strains in ties over Dhaka's demand for the extradition of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
"Issues can only be sorted out by meeting, and I am very hopeful," Mr. Trivedi said, expressing optimism that the visit would happen "much sooner". He described both Mr. Rahman and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "people's persons", and asserted that when the two leaders meet, no issue would remain unaddressed.
The envoy also acknowledged that India and Bangladesh, as sovereign nations, would have differences and need space to pursue their respective interests. "We need our space. We have our differences. We have our arguments. That's okay. My very objective is to have a golden period between India and Bangladesh," he said.
Earlier, Bangladesh Foreign Ministry spokesperson A. K. M. Shahidul Karim said officials of both countries had been in touch for several weeks regarding the proposed visit, but a "propitious environment" needed to be created for the trip.
The strained relations follow a virtual media interaction by Ms. Hasina from New Delhi on August 5. Bangladesh expressed outrage, stating the event hurt the sentiments of its people and could adversely affect bilateral ties. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs clarified that it had no role in the event and did not endorse any remarks made about the Bangladesh government.
Ms. Hasina was ousted in August 2024 after violent student-led protests and fled to India. In November 2025, a special tribunal in Bangladesh sentenced her to death in absentia over alleged "crimes against humanity" during the crackdown on protesters. Dhaka has since sought her extradition, while New Delhi maintains that the request is under examination in accordance with applicable law and established legal procedures.
Mr. Trivedi emphasised that the common goal should be ensuring dignity and mutual respect for people not only in India and Bangladesh but across the world. "And that's what we strive for," he said.
