‘Relationship Based On Mutual Respect’: Tarique Rahman’s Top Aide Signals Reset With India

The newly elected Bangladesh government led by Tarique Rahman’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is looking to strengthen ties with India through enhanced trade, investment and broader people-to-people engagement, a senior aide to Rahman has said.

Humayun Kabir, who oversees international relations for Rahman and is expected to play a key role in the new administration, said Dhaka’s priority is to build “stronger cooperation among our people.”

“India will be one of the countries that we will visit,” Kabir told NDTV, though he did not specify a timeline. He added that while domestic priorities would come first, engagement with regional partners, including India, would follow.

“It is normal to have bilateral visits both ways, whether to India or from

senior Indian officials visiting Bangladesh. But what we want is to broaden the relationship beyond governments to people across the board,” he said.

On Relations With Pakistan

Addressing concerns that Bangladesh may tilt toward Pakistan under the new dispensation, Kabir struck a balanced tone. During the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus, Dhaka was perceived by some as moving closer to Islamabad.

“I think it’s normal to normalise relations in the region,” Kabir said. “Regardless of tensions between India and Pakistan, for us it is not about taking sides.”

He emphasised that Bangladesh would pursue ties based on “mutual respect and national interest.”

Kabir also criticised former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s approach to foreign policy, alleging it was overly dependent on India. “It was seen as a one-way relationship between India and Sheikh Hasina. We want to move away from any country-centric or country-dependent foreign policy,” he said.

On Rising Radicalisation

Speaking to PTI about regional security, Kabir acknowledged concerns about radicalisation in South Asia and called for stronger cooperation among neighbouring countries.

“Radicalisation is a problem in South Asia. We see Hindu extremism and far-right intolerance growing in Indian society, and in Pakistan, we also hear of extremist elements. In Bangladesh, it is not at that level, but there are some issues,” he said.

Kabir emphasised the need for information sharing and coordinated counter-terror efforts across the region.

“That is why all of us need to share counter-terrorism evidence and assessments and strengthen cooperation. Sitting in isolation and not engaging in information exchange or security cooperation only hinders progress,” he said.

He added that diplomacy and collaboration among elected governments are essential. “Going forward, information sharing and working together will build confidence in detecting and tracking terrorists and extremists in the region.”

India’s Cautious Optimism

In New Delhi, officials are assessing the new political landscape with what sources describe as “cautious optimism.” The BNP’s landslide victory marks the end of a turbulent interim period under Yunus, which Indian officials reportedly viewed as disruptive to bilateral engagement.

Despite past differences between India and previous BNP governments, Indian officials believe Rahman may adopt a more pragmatic approach, shaped by economic needs and regional stability considerations.

With the electoral transition complete, attention now turns to how Dhaka and New Delhi navigate this potential diplomatic reset in the months ahead.