2 weeks ago
Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman Eyes First India Visit, BRICS Summit
Bangladesh's leader, Tarique Rahman, may soon visit India for the first time.
He might go between August 21 and 26 to talk with Indian leaders and attend a big meeting called the BRICS Summit.
The two countries have not been getting along very well since last year.
Bangladesh wants India to send back the old leader, Sheikh Hasina, who has been staying in India.
India wants to be friends with Bangladesh so it does not drift too close to China and Pakistan.
Bangladesh needs India for electricity, food, and trade.
India supplies power from a big plant and sells Bangladesh rice, wheat, and onions.
The two countries share a very long border and many rivers.
There are still hard problems to solve, like sharing river water.
Many people are watching to see if the visit makes things better.
Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman is expected to visit New Delhi between August 21 and 26 for his first trip to India, possibly attending the BRICS Summit.
The visit follows Indian signals to reset ties, including EAM S Jaishankar's condolence visit to Dhaka and the appointment of Dinesh Trivedi as High Commissioner.
Dhaka continues to press for the extradition of former PM Sheikh Hasina, who has been living in India since August 5, 2024.
Bangladesh's dependence on India includes 1600 MW of power from Adani Power's Godda plant and $11 billion in bilateral trade in 2024-25.
Thorny issues include the lapsed 1996 Ganga water-sharing treaty and Bangladesh awarding the Teesta River project to China's PowerChina.
- Who
- Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman and Indian officials, including EAM S Jaishankar, High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi, and RAW chief Parag Jain
- What
- A possible first visit by Rahman to India for bilateral talks and the BRICS Summit, aimed at resetting strained ties
- Where
- New Delhi, India, with preparatory diplomatic activity in Dhaka, Bangladesh
- When
- Expected between August 21 and 26; a RAW delegation visited Dhaka on August 9
- Why
- To address water-sharing, border management, trade, and Sheikh Hasina's extradition, amid Bangladesh's heavy economic dependence on India
Engagement First
Conditions First
Sheikh Hasina's Extradition
Engagement First
Bangladesh insists on Hasina's extradition and strongly objects to her online press conference from Delhi, asking India to create a conducive atmosphere.
Conditions First
India is under pressure to ensure Hasina's safety and has not committed to sending her back, keeping the extradition file the most difficult issue.
Pace of the Ties Reset
Engagement First
Some student leaders welcome the engagement and the diplomatic thaw between the two countries.
Conditions First
Other student leaders insist a CBI probe and resolution of pending issues are still needed before normalcy returns.
Bangladesh's Balancing Act
Engagement First
Rahman is seen as pursuing pragmatism by engaging India, avoiding the path taken by Muhammad Yunus, who leaned towards Pakistan and China.
Conditions First
Dhaka has awarded the Teesta River project to China's PowerChina, a move that could bring Beijing close to India's sensitive Siliguri Corridor.
Key facts
- Bangladesh PM
- Tarique Rahman
- Expected visit window
- August 21-26, New Delhi
- Bilateral trade (2024-25)
- $11 billion
- Indian power supply
- 1600 MW from Adani Power's Godda plant under a 25-year deal signed in 2017
- Shared border
- 4,096 km
- Shared rivers
- 54
- Sheikh Hasina in India since
- August 5, 2024
- RAW delegation visit
- August 9, led by chief Parag Jain
Sources
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