Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman is expected to visit New Delhi in April. According to sources cited by The Hindu, Rahman is likely to make a brief stopover in the Indian capital around April 8 while travelling to Mauritius to attend the Indian Ocean Conference.
If the visit materialises, it will be his first trip to India since the new government led by Tarique Rahman assumed office in February, signalling a possible thaw in bilateral relations.
First visit since political transition
Rahman’s visit comes at a crucial time, as both countries look to stabilise ties following tensions during the tenure of the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus.
His inclusion in the new cabinet had surprised many, given his earlier role as national security adviser in the interim setup. Now, as foreign minister, he is expected to play a key role in reshaping Dhaka’s diplomatic outreach.
The proposed Delhi stopover is being seen as an early step in rebuilding engagement between the two neighbours.
India signals interest in reviving ties
New Delhi has already made moves to re-engage. India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Verma, met Rahman in Dhaka last month and extended an invitation on behalf of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar for an early visit to India.
The outreach reflects India’s intent to revive cooperation after a difficult phase in ties, with both sides now appearing open to dialogue.
Even as engagement with India gathers pace, Bangladesh’s new leadership is treading carefully on the diplomatic front.
Sources cited by CNN-News18 indicate that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is unlikely to choose India or China for his first official foreign visit, signalling an effort to project a balanced foreign policy that does not favour any single regional power.
Instead, he may opt to visit neighbouring countries such as Bhutan or the Maldives.
The expected visit by Rahman could set the tone for future engagement between the two countries, especially as both sides seek to move past recent tensions.
