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Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina traveled to Delhi Friday afternoon for a two-day state visit upon the invitation of India's newly elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This marks Sheikh Hasina's first bilateral visit to India since both leaders began their new terms as prime ministers. The visit is expected to elevate the friendly relationship between the two countries to new heights. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh anticipates that this visit will help address unresolved issues between Bangladesh and India.
Awami League has formed the government for its fourth term, while BJP has secured its third term in office. Both governments have maintained strong and positive relations. It is anticipated that this cordial relationship between Bangladesh and India will continue. However, according to diplomatic sources, Bangladesh has addressed all concerns raised by India. On the other hand, Bangladeshi concerns such as the Teesta River water sharing agreement and border killings remain unresolved.
During this visit, water issues, particularly the Teesta agreement, are expected to be prioritised. India places importance on security issues, while Bangladesh emphasises issues such as the implementation of loan agreements and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) ensuring the supply of essential commodities under all circumstances.
The summit meeting is likely to cover discussions on economic cooperation, trade, energy, border security, defense, and new technology, among other topics.
The upcoming visits of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India and then to China are expected to address significant geopolitical issues.
According to Dhaka University political science professor Shantanu Majumdar, these visits suggest that Bangladesh aims to maintain balanced relations without leaning towards any specific direction.
The depth and timing of these visits indicate that Bangladesh values deepening its friendship with India while also acknowledging China as a major partner in development and trade. This approach reflects Bangladesh's strategic consideration of its relations with each country individually, taking into account broader geopolitical dynamics.
Prime Minister's Press Secretary Naimul Islam Khan has indicated that the longstanding issues between Bangladesh and India may be discussed during Sheikh Hasina's upcoming visit to India. He emphasised that both countries are prepared to address unresolved issues, leveraging the opportunity presented by the visit of the newly elected governments of both nations.
Additionally, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen highlighted that the meeting between the two top leaders will set a direction for the future of the bilateral relationship. This suggests that the discussions during the visit will aim to chart a course for enhancing cooperation and addressing any outstanding concerns between Bangladesh and India.
Security will be the central focus of this meeting, addressing the situations in Myanmar, the Rohingya and Manipur crises, and China's regional influence on overall security. Economic security will also be pivotal, with India expected to finalise an MoU ensuring the supply of essential commodities to Bangladesh. The meeting will additionally explore enhancing communication between India and Bangladesh. Bangladesh will also engage in discussions concerning issues such as the common river and Teesta water sharing agreement, and the complete cessation of border killings.
Prime Minister's visit: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be accorded a formal reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Saturday morning, according to a Press Wing press release on the programme for this visit. The Prime Minister will receive the armed salute and visit the guard of honour. After that, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lay wreaths and sign the visiting book at Mahatma Gandhi's mausoleum located at Raj Ghat. On the same day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will hold an official meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House. There will also be discussions at the representative level. During the visit, there is a state lunch in honor of the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will pay a courtesy call to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her residence on Friday, the first day of her visit. In the afternoon, Sheikh Hasina will meet with Indian Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar at his secretariat. Following this, she will return to Rashtrapati Bhavan for a private meeting with Indian President Draupadi Murmu.
The two-day visit will conclude with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina departing for Dhaka on a special flight operated by Bangladesh Biman at 6 pm local time on Saturday.
Former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador Md. Tawhid Hossain expressed that there isn't great anticipation surrounding Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to India. He believes that the current relationship between Bangladesh and India will likely continue as it is. While Bangladesh has addressed India's concerns, issues from the Bangladeshi side such as the Teesta River water sharing agreement and border killings remain unresolved.
Regarding Sheikh Hasina's upcoming visit to China immediately after India, Hossain noted that Bangladesh may seek to understand India's perspective on China, as India is wary of increasing Chinese influence in Bangladesh. He acknowledged that Bangladesh has interests in both India and China and will need to navigate these dynamics carefully during the visits. Ultimately, the outcomes of these visits will determine the future direction of Bangladesh's diplomatic engagements.
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