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    EYE ON INDIA                                                       FEBRUARY 27, 2026       |  The Indian Eye                    8

                                      A Reset in the Making?

                         Indian-Bangladeshi Ties Under

                 Tarique Rahman’s New Government

                As Bangladesh’s new Prime Minister unveils a 180-day domestic agenda, early signals from
                            Dhaka and New Delhi point to cautious recalibration in bilateral relations.

            OUR BUREAU                                                                                            disagreements  over  match  venues
                                                                                                                  and broader diplomatic sensitivities,
            Dhaka (Bangladesh)
                                                                                                                  underscored how quickly political
                  angladesh’s  newly  sworn-in                                                                    tensions can spill into other domains.
                  Prime Minister Tarique Rah-                                                                     That Dhaka is keen to resolve the
            Bman  has  outlined  an  ambi-                                                                        matter suggests an awareness of the
            tious 180-day priority plan focused                                                                   symbolic importance of maintaining
            squarely on restoring law and order,                                                                  cooperative ties with India.
            controlling prices, ensuring energy                                                                       At the structural level, economic
            stability, improving transport connec-                                                                and connectivity projects will like-
            tivity and fighting corruption. While                                                                 ly define the trajectory of relations.
            his  first  national  address  was  domi-                                                             Over the past decade, India and Ban-
            nated by domestic concerns, the con-                                                                  gladesh have deepened cross-border
            tours of India-Bangladesh relations                                                                   infrastructure, energy trade and
            under the new government are begin-                                                                   transport linkages. Rahman’s do-
            ning to take shape through early dip-                                                                 mestic focus on improving railways
            lomatic exchanges and policy signals.                                                                 and public transport aligns with
                Rahman’s decision to extend the   Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla meets Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, in Dhaka on   these priorities, potentially opening
            traditional 100-day roadmap to 180                    Tuesday (@ombirlakota X/ANI Photo)              space for continued collaboration
            days reflects both the scale of chal-                                                                 on cross-border rail corridors and
            lenges at home and the political tran-  ka and conveyed a personal invita-  friendly relations with all countries.  transit agreements benefiting India’s
            sition underway. After a landslide   tion from Prime Minister Narendra   For India, the phrase signals a   northeastern states.
            victory in the February 12 general   Modi to visit India at the earliest con-  pragmatic, interest-driven approach   Energy cooperation may also re-
            elections, which saw the BNP-led alli-  venience. In a letter, Modi extended   rather than ideological alignment. It   main central. Rahman has pledged to
            ance secure 212 of 300 parliamentary   warm wishes and underlined the po-  suggests that Dhaka under the BNP   ensure uninterrupted electricity and
            seats, Rahman returned from years   tential of the bilateral relationship.  will seek balanced diplomacy, possi-  gas supplies while reducing the cost
            in exile to lead Bangladesh through a   “As two fast-growing economies   bly recalibrating certain aspects of its   of living—areas where cross-border
            new phase. His immediate priorities   and aspiring societies, India and   external engagement while avoiding   power trade with India has previous-
            are internal stability and economic   Bangladesh can truly become cat-  overt confrontation.          ly played a stabilising role.
            management.                       alysts for each other’s sustainable   Sports diplomacy has already      At the same time, the BNP’s re-
                “Restoring peace and security   growth, work for each other’s securi-  emerged as an early test case. Ban-  turn to power marks the end of two
            in the minds of the public by elimi-  ty and enable mutual prosperity,” the   gladesh’s  newly  appointed sports   decades of Awami League domi-
            nating crime and strictly controlling   letter read.                minister,  former  footballer  Aminul   nance, introducing uncertainties.
            corruption is the primary focus of our   Modi also highlighted areas in-  Haque, expressed eagerness to re-  The exclusion of key parties like the
            government’s agenda,” Rahman said   cluding connectivity, trade, technolo-  pair ties with India and the Board of   Awami League from the recent elec-
            in a national address.            gy, energy, healthcare, education and   Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)   tions and lingering political tensions
                The emphasis on law and order   people-to-people exchanges as pil-  following  diplomatic  complica-  mean that domestic stability cannot
            is  significant  not  only  for  domestic   lars for enhanced cooperation. The   tions that saw Bangladesh replaced   be taken for granted. Any internal
            politics but also for regional con-  tone suggests New Delhi’s intent to   by Scotland in the ICC Men’s T20   unrest could complicate bilateral en-
            fidence.  India,  Bangladesh’s  larg-  preserve continuity in ties despite the   World Cup 2026.      gagement.
            est neighbour and a key economic   political shift in Dhaka.            “From sports to all other sectors,   Rahman’s message of inclusiv-
            partner,  has  closely  watched  devel-  Interestingly, Rahman himself   we want to build a sincere and cordial   ity—addressing citizens across reli-
            opments following the political up-  did not elaborate on foreign policy in   relationship [with India],” Aminul   gious and regional lines—will also be
            heavals that culminated in the 2024   his initial address. However, Bangla-  said, noting that he had met India’s   closely observed in India, given sen-
            uprising. Stability in Dhaka is central   desh’s new Foreign Minister, Kalilur   deputy high commissioner and de-  sitivities surrounding minority issues.
            to India’s eastern and northeastern   Rahman, later articulated a guiding   scribed the discussions as cordial.   Whether the relationship deep-
            strategic calculus.               principle: “Bangladesh First.” The   “We want to resolve this issue quickly   ens or drifts will depend on how ef-
                India moved quickly to engage   formulation echoes the foreign pol-  through discussions because we want   fectively both sides translate early
            the new leadership. Lok Sabha     icy line associated with former Pres-  to maintain friendly relations with all   diplomatic goodwill into tangible co-
            Speaker Om Birla attended Rah-    ident Ziaur Rahman—prioritising   our neighbouring countries.”      operation during Rahman’s extend-
            man’s swearing-in ceremony in Dha-  national interests while maintaining   The episode, which involved   ed 180-day honeymoon period.

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