DHAKA, Aug. 14, 2026: Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is preparing for a bilateral visit to India, with Dhaka and New Delhi working to settle the timing of what could become an important step toward improving relations between the two neighbours.
Preparations for Rahman’s first visit to India since becoming prime minister are already under way in both capitals, according to officials familiar with the discussions. A two-day bilateral engagement is being planned, with a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to form the centrepiece of the visit.
The precise schedule has not yet been formally announced. Reports from Dhaka and New Delhi indicate that dates are being discussed, with Aug. 21–22 proposed by India and Aug. 22–23 also reported as a possible window, while Bangladeshi officials are considering whether a later date would better suit the prime minister’s schedule.
The proposed visit would carry considerable diplomatic significance after a period of strain in India–Bangladesh relations. Rahman told India’s new High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, during their meeting on Aug. 10 that a “conducive environment” was needed to improve bilateral ties.
A meeting between Rahman and Modi could provide the first opportunity for the two prime ministers to address the broader relationship directly. Issues expected to figure in discussions include border management, connectivity, energy, regional security and other matters affecting bilateral relations.
The proposed engagement also comes as Bangladesh seeks to manage several sensitive issues with India, including Dhaka’s request for the extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who remains in India. The issue has been a source of tension between the two countries.
India has previously invited Rahman to visit New Delhi, and Indian officials have publicly discussed his participation in the BRICS outreach process. The invitation provides an additional framework for high-level engagement between the two governments.
For Bangladesh, a Rahman–Modi meeting would offer an opportunity to establish a new political channel with New Delhi after the change of government in Dhaka. For India, direct engagement with the new Bangladeshi leadership could help shape the next phase of a relationship that is important to both countries’ regional interests.
The visit remains subject to final scheduling and formal announcement by the two governments.
