India, Bangladesh vow to normalise ties after 18-month downturn

New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) India and Bangladesh on Wednesday vowed to normalise their partnership following more than 18 months of unprecedented strain in relations, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Bangladesh counterpart Khalilur Rahman agreeing to take steps to bolster ties in areas of trade, energy and people-to-people exchanges. In his meeting with Jaishankar, Rahman reiterated Bangladesh’s request to extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her ex-home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal as they have been convicted by the ‘International Crimes Tribunal’, according to a readout issued by Dhaka. At the same time, it was agreed that the issue relating to Hasina should not impact the overall trajectory of the India-Bangladesh relations, people familiar with the matter said. Shortly after landing in New Delhi on Tuesday, Rahman held wide-ranging talks with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. It is the first high-level visit to India by a senior member of the new Bangladesh Nationalist Party government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman that came to power in February following the parliamentary elections. “Rahman stated that the recently elected BNP government under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman would pursue its foreign policy in accordance with the principle of ‘Bangladesh First’ and on the basis of mutual trust and respect and reciprocal benefit,” the Bangladeshi readout said. It said the foreign minister thanked the Indian government for apprehending the suspected killers of student leader Shaheed Osman Hadi. “Both sides agreed that the arrested individuals will be returned to Bangladesh in accordance with the procedures laid out in the extradition treaty between the two countries,” it said. A readout from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was silent on the issues of Hasina and Hadi. Hasina and Kamal have been living in India after they fled Bangladesh following the collapse of the Awami League government in August 2024 in the face of a massive student-led agitation. Hadi was shot by gunmen in Dhaka last December and was subsequently taken for treatment to Singapore, where he died. The attack on Hadi had triggered huge protests in Bangladesh, with many elements trying to link India to his killing. “We discussed strengthening our bilateral relationship in its various facets. Also exchanged views on regional and global developments. Agreed to remain in close touch,” Jaishankar said in a social media post after meeting Rahman. In its readout, the MEA said Jaishankar reiterated “India’s desire to engage constructively with the new government and further strengthen bilateral ties.” “The two sides agreed to explore proposals for deepening the partnership through the relevant bilateral mechanisms. Follow-on official meetings are expected to take place at an early date. Further, both sides exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest,” it said. In the discussions, Jaishankar assured the Bangladeshi delegation that issuance of visas to Bangladeshis, particularly medical and business visas, would be eased in the coming weeks. It is learnt that both sides also decided to focus on boosting trade and energy ties. The Bangladesh foreign minister also met Oil and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Puri. “Rahman expressed thanks to Minister Hardeep Puri for the recent supply of diesel to Bangladesh by India and requested to increase the volume of supply of diesel and fertiliser,” the Bangladeshi readout said. “Minister Puri indicated that the Government of India will consider the request readily and favourably,” it said. The relations between India and Bangladesh witnessed a major downturn after the interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus came to power following the collapse of the Hasina government. The two sides initiated efforts to stabilise the relations after Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, accompanied by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, represented India at the inauguration of Tarique Rahman as the prime minister in Dhaka on February 17 following his party’s landslide victory in the parliamentary polls.