Bangladesh on Wednesday expressed its optimism for a fresh chapter in its relations with India following the visit of External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to Dhaka.
The commissioner of Bangladesh
to India, Riaz Hamidullah, shared on X that Bangladesh and India are “looking forward to script a new chapter in ties, in shared interests driven by pragmatism and mutual interdependence.”
The statement also referred to brief discussions between Jaishankar and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) acting chairperson Tarique Rahman during the visit.
As HE Dr @DrSJaishankar left Dhaka after a whirlwind 4-hr visit, #Bangladesh & #India would look forward to script a new chapter in 🇧🇩🇮🇳 ties, in shared interests driven by pragmatism and mutual interdependence, as indeed briefly discussed with @bdbnp78 Acting Chair, @trahmanbnp… pic.twitter.com/jgJaHFowLl
— Riaz Hamidullah (@hamidullah_riaz) December 31, 2025
Jaishankar arrived in Dhaka on Wednesday to attend the funeral of former Bangladeshi Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, who passed away on Tuesday after a prolonged illness.
Zia, who was 80, had been a dominant figure in Bangladesh’s politics for over three decades, serving as prime minister three times and leading the BNP for a long period. Thousands of people gathered to pay their respects at her funeral, and Jaishankar represented the Indian government and people at the ceremony.
Jaishankar hands over PM’s letter to Tarique Rahman
During his visit, Jaishankar met with Tarique Rahman, the acting chairperson of the BNP and the eldest son of Khaleda Zia.
Jaishankar conveyed India’s deepest condolences over the passing of the iconic leader. At the funeral, Jaishankar also handed over a letter from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Rahman, offering India’s sympathies.
Jaishankar’s brief visit, which lasted only four hours, is seen as an important step in improving the ties between the two countries. His visit comes at a time when relations between India and Bangladesh have been under some strain, particularly following tensions after the interim government led by Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus came to power.
There have also been concerns raised by India over attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh, which have further complicated the diplomatic landscape.
(With inputs from PTI)
