Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi has struck an optimistic note on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s upcoming visit to India, even as ties between the two countries remain strained over the unresolved question of Sheikh Hasina’s extradition. Trivedi’s back-to-back meetings, first with Rahman in Dhaka and then with Modi in New Delhi, have been widely read as an attempt to smooth the path for what would be Rahman’s first visit to India since taking office in February.
“No Issue That Cannot Be Solved”
After meeting Rahman on August 10, Trivedi described the discussion as fruitful and said there was no issue that could not be solved, adding that he could say so confidently. He also called Rahman a people’s person, much like Modi, and said he had full confidence that when two leaders meet, many problems get resolved, describing the overall situation as positive with nothing negative about it. The following day, Trivedi travelled to New Delhi and briefed Modi on the state of bilateral ties, with the Indian High Commission saying the envoy sought the prime minister’s guidance on strengthening relations in a constructive, people-centric manner.
Hasina Issue Still the Biggest Hurdle
Despite the warm messaging, the relationship remains far from settled. The talks come as both nations try to ease diplomatic strain and rebuild people-centred ties, at a time when the unresolved matter of Hasina’s extradition continues to weigh on the relationship. Matters were complicated further after Hasina and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy held a public interaction in New Delhi on August 5, which Dhaka said had vitiated the atmosphere around Rahman’s proposed visit, with Bangladesh telling Trivedi during their August 10 meeting that India needed to create a conducive environment first.
A Parallel Security Track
Alongside the diplomatic outreach, security-level engagement between the two countries has also picked up pace. Indian intelligence chief Parag Jain, who heads the Research and Analysis Wing, arrived in Dhaka on August 9 with a four-member team, days ahead of Trivedi’s own meetings. Reports suggest the two accused in the murder of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi could be handed over to Dhaka ahead of Rahman’s visit, a move that would address one of Bangladesh’s specific extradition requests even as the larger Hasina issue remains unresolved.
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Bilateral Visit Over BRICS Outreach
Diplomatic sources said Dhaka and New Delhi agreed to proceed with a standalone bilateral visit after deciding Rahman would not attend the BRICS Summit scheduled for September 12-13 in New Delhi. Dhaka had initially preferred a date toward the end of August, but the Indian side sought a different window because of Modi’s planned travel to Kyrgyzstan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit on September 1, while Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman is also expected in New York in early September to take up the presidency of the UN General Assembly. Both sides have therefore been working toward a visit between August 20 and 25. Separately, India’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that Rahman had already been invited for a bilateral visit and was later also invited in his capacity as BIMSTEC chair for the BRICS outreach session.
What’s on the Agenda
Should the visit go ahead, the agenda is expected to be a heavy one. Talks are likely to cover water-sharing from transboundary rivers, border management, trade, and the sensitive question of Hasina’s extradition. Energy dependence is also expected to feature prominently, given Bangladesh’s reliance on Indian power supply, including the 1,600 MW Adani Power deal from the Godda plant in Jharkhand, a dependence that became especially visible during the country’s nationwide blackout on August 15.
With dates still being finalised and the Hasina issue unresolved, Rahman’s visit remains a delicate balancing act for both capitals. Trivedi’s outreach suggests Delhi is keen to ensure the trip, whenever it happens, leaves a positive impression rather than becoming overshadowed by the disputes that have strained ties since 2024. Whether that ambition holds up will depend on how much progress is made on the harder issues in the days leading up to the visit.
Summary: As Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s visit to India takes shape for late August, Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi says New Delhi wants the trip to go smoothly, even as unresolved issues around Sheikh Hasina’s extradition continue to cloud the relationship.
