India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, a day after his courtesy call on Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka.

During the meeting, Trivedi sought Modi’s guidance on strengthening the multifaceted and enduring bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh. The High Commission of India in Bangladesh emphasised that the approach would be constructive and people-centric.

On Monday, while interacting with Rahman, Trivedi conveyed greetings from Modi and reiterated India’s commitment to collaborate positively with the Bangladeshi administration and its citizens. Both sides exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and discussed avenues to deepen cooperation with a focus on people-to-people ties.

The meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Dhaka carried added significance as Bangladesh expressed hope that India would expedite the extradition process of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Hasina was ousted in 2024 following a student-led uprising and has since been living in India.

Bangladesh also renewed its request for the return of individuals allegedly involved in the murder of Shahid Osman Hadi, a key figure in the July uprising, who was shot dead on 12 December 2025. Dhaka’s statement underscored the importance of India’s cooperation in these sensitive matters.

Tarique Rahman stressed the need to create a suitable environment for advancing bilateral ties. The meeting was attended by Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir, and other senior officials. This engagement followed Trivedi’s one-on-one meeting with Foreign Minister Rahman a day earlier.

These high-level exchanges come amid diplomatic friction triggered by Sheikh Hasina’s virtual press interaction in New Delhi on 5 August. The event, organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia, marked the second anniversary of her ouster and drew strong objections from Dhaka.

In her address, Hasina declared her intention to return to Bangladesh in December to restore democracy, despite acknowledging the risks of imprisonment or execution. Her remarks were condemned by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which said the incident affected public sentiment and complicated bilateral cooperation.

India distanced itself from the program, clarifying that the government had no involvement. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stressed that the event was organised by a private media entity and that New Delhi did not endorse any views expressed there.

The developments highlight the delicate balance India must maintain in managing its ties with Dhaka, as both nations seek to move forward despite contentious issues surrounding Hasina’s exile and Bangladesh’s demands for extradition.

ANI