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India-Bangladesh Ties
Bangladesh wants to reset ties with India on a fresh footing now that ousted premier Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party no longer hold power, Humayun Kabir, adviser to BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, has said, asserting that the two nations should work together for "mutual benefit". Rahman's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) on Friday secured a sweeping victory with more than two-thirds majority in the landmark parliamentary elections held on Thursday. In an interview to PTI Videos on Saturday, Kabir stressed that the onus lies on India to recognise the changed political reality in Bangladesh after the BNP's resounding electoral mandate. "The change has to come from the mindset in India. Sheikh Hasina and Awami League don't exist in today's Bangladesh anymore. The people have given a clear verdict in favour of BNP," Kabir said. Kabir described Hasina, who fled to India after 2024's August uprising, as a "terrorist" responsible for the deaths of over 1,500 people. Kabir urged t
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party, which clinched a landslide victory in 13th parliamentary polls, on Saturday said it looked forward to constructive engagement with India with a shared commitment to peace and stability in South Asia. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was replying to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's post on X congratulating party chairperson Tarique Rahman on "a decisive victory," which "shows the trust of the people of Bangladesh." Rahman's BNP on Friday secured a sweeping victory with more than two-thirds majority in the landmark parliamentary elections held on Thursday. Thanking Modi for his "kind acknowledgment of Mr Tarique Rahman's leadership in securing the BNP's decisive win in the national elections," the BNP said in a post on X said, "This outcome reflects the trust and confidence the people of Bangladesh have placed in our leadership and in the democratic process." "Bangladesh remains committed to upholding democratic values, inclusivity, and progressi
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Shafiqur Rahman on Wednesday said that his party would work to build "strong, respectful and mutually beneficial" relations with India if voted to power. Rahman made the comments during a meeting with a group of journalists in Dhaka on the eve of the general elections. Rahman emphasised national unity, equal citizenship and constructive relations with neighbouring countries, including India. "We seek positive relationships with our neighbouring countries and with friends around the world. India is our nearest neighbour, and it will remain a priority. Our goal is not to create conflict but to build partnerships for development and peace. Mutual respect and trust are essential," he said. Bangladesh will hold its first general elections since the 2024 uprising that led to the ouster of then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Jamaat-e-Islami, leading an 11-party alliance, has emerged as the main rival to the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)-led ...
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday represented India at the funeral of former prime minister Khaleda Zia and handed over to Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader Tarique Rahman a letter of condolences from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In his meeting with Rahman, a front-runner for prime ministership in the February 12 parliamentary polls, Jaishankar expressed confidence that Zia's "vision and values" will guide the development of partnership between the two nations. Rahman, currently serving as the acting chairman of BNP, is the eldest son of Zia. The three-time Bangladesh prime minister and BNP matriarch died on Tuesday following a prolonged illness. In his letter, Modi warmly recalled his meeting and discussions with Zia during his visit to Dhaka in June 2015, adding she was a leader of "rare resolve and conviction". She made many important contributions to the development of Bangladesh, as well as to the strengthening of India-Bangladesh relations, Modi ..
Bangladesh High Commissioner to India Reaz Hamidullah overnight reached Dhaka following an urgent call from the foreign ministry amid visibly strained bilateral ties, reports said late Monday. In view of the recent situation in bilateral ties with India, Bangladesh High Commissioner in New Delhi M Reaz Hamidullah was called to Dhaka on an urgent basis, mass-circulation daily Prothom Alo reported. Quoting an unnamed responsible source in the foreign office, the newspaper said Hamidullah reached Dhaka on Monday night in response to the call. He has been summoned to Dhaka for discussions on the recent situation of bilateral relations, the report said.
Bangladesh's ties with India witnessed a downturn as it navigated a turbulent 2025 marked by political instability, economic strain and alleged persecution of minorities, leading to a diplomatic tussle between the two neighbours. The relationship between India and Bangladesh hit a rough note after the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India in August last year following anti-government protests. She was sentenced to death in absentia by a tribunal this year for her alleged role in a deadly crackdown during the agitation. Dhaka summoned Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma five times over various issues, while India summoned Bangladesh's High Commissioner Reaz Hamidullah once to express concerns over security in Bangladesh. The transition, from what was widely regarded as an "India-friendly" Awami League government to Muhammad Yunus-led interim dispensation, significantly altered Bangladesh's diplomatic posture. Dhaka's engagement with Islamabad to deepen ties ..
Bangladesh interim government's senior adviser on Tuesday said that the state will take responsibility of the family of the Hindu worker who was lynched on blasphemy charges last week. Education adviser C R Abrar met the bereaved family of 25-year-old Dipu Das, who was killed by a mob and his body set on fire on December 18 in Mymensingh. The state has taken the responsibilities of taking care of Dipu Das' child, wife and parents, Abrar said, calling the killing of the garment factory worker a brutal crime which has no excuse. Abrar said ahead of meeting the family, he held talks with Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, who asked him to convey to them the government's profound sorrow and deepest condolences. According to newspaper reports, Das' father Rabi Chandra Das demanded justice for his son's killing, describing the condition of the family to the adviser. Yunus's office, meanwhile, reconfirmed that financial and welfare assistance would be provided to Das' family, and relevant ...