Archive · 14 Sep 2026
Bangladesh Seeks Bilateral Reset of Ties With India
Bangladesh says it wants to improve and reset its relationship with India.
Humaiun Kobir said the two countries should talk directly through bilateral meetings.
He said cooperation should be based on interests that both countries share.
He also said Bangladesh should not focus too much on India and should build relationships with many countries.
Bangladesh did not send Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to India’s BRICS Summit because the invitation was made in his role as BIMSTEC chair, not personally.
Rahman will travel to New York on September 21 for a major United Nations meeting.
He is expected to stay there until September 26.
Bangladesh is also reviewing agreements with India and plans to discuss the Rohingya issue during the visit.
Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said Dhaka wants to reset relations with India through bilateral discussions.
Kobir said future ties should focus on mutual interests and form part of Bangladesh’s broader engagement with other countries.
Bangladesh said Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would not attend India’s BRICS Summit because the invitation was extended to the BIMSTEC chair rather than to him personally.
Rahman is scheduled to travel to New York on September 21 for the 81st United Nations General Assembly and remain there until September 26.
Bangladesh said 101 agreements with India are being scrutinized, while Rahman is also expected to hold a meeting on the Rohingya issue during his visit.
- Who
- Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and Prime Minister Tarique Rahman.
- What
- Bangladesh said it wants to reset relations with India through a bilateral framework based on mutual interests.
- When
- Kobir made the remarks on Sunday; Rahman is scheduled to travel to New York on September 21 and stay until September 26.
- Where
- The comments were made at a Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs press briefing; Rahman will attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
- Why
- Bangladesh says it wants to move beyond what Kobir described as an uncomfortable relationship and establish more balanced, mutually beneficial ties with India.
Bilateral Reset
Multilateral Engagement
How Bangladesh should engage India
Bilateral Reset
Bangladesh’s foreign affairs minister said the relationship should be rebuilt through direct bilateral discussions and a bilateral visit.
Multilateral Engagement
The BRICS invitation represented engagement through a multilateral setting, with Rahman invited in his capacity as BIMSTEC chair; Bangladesh said this was not the preferred format for its first high-level engagement.
India’s place in Bangladesh’s foreign policy
Bilateral Reset
Kobir said Bangladesh should maintain good working relations with India and focus on shared interests.
Multilateral Engagement
Kobir also argued that Bangladesh should move beyond an excessive preoccupation with India and treat it as one country among many in Bangladesh’s wider international engagement.
- Proposed relationship
- Bangladesh wants a new bilateral relationship with India based on mutual interests.
- Preferred engagement
- Kobir said initial high-level engagement should occur through a bilateral visit rather than on the sidelines of a multilateral forum.
- BRICS Summit
- Rahman did not attend the India-hosted summit; Bangladesh said the invitation was extended to him as BIMSTEC chair, while a separate bilateral invitation had existed since February.
- United Nations visit
- Rahman is scheduled to leave Dhaka on September 21 for the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and stay until September 26.
- Rohingya issue
- Rahman is expected to hold a meeting on the Rohingya issue during his New York visit.
- India agreements
- Bangladesh said 101 agreements with India are being scrutinized and reviewed.
- Strained relations
- The reports link tensions to India providing refuge to Sheikh Hasina after her ouster in August 2024.
