Last Updated on April 6, 2026 9:42 pm by INDIAN AWAAZ
Zakir Hossain from Dhaka
Bangladesh will raise key bilateral issues, including extradition, visa services, border management and water-sharing, during Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman’s visit to India this week, as Dhaka seeks to reset ties on the basis of “mutual respect and mutual gains.”
Though termed a goodwill visit, officials said substantive talks are expected with New Delhi to assess current dynamics and address priority concerns. Khalilur is scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
Dhaka will reiterate its request for the extradition of ousted former PM Sheikh Hasina and other accused, including Faisal Karim Masud, arrested in Kolkata in the Shaheed Sharif Osman Bin Hadi murder case. “It may take time but we want to see their return as soon as possible,” a senior official said.
Bangladesh will also push for full resumption of visa services, suspended since July 2024, highlighting medical tourism benefits, and raise concerns over understaffed visa centres.
Border management, prevention of deaths along the frontier, energy cooperation, trade facilitation and sharing of common rivers will also be discussed. Water-sharing remains sensitive, particularly the long-pending Teesta agreement finalised in 2011. The two countries share 54 rivers.
The Ganga water treaty, signed on December 12, 1996, is due to expire this December, with formal renewal talks yet to begin despite an understanding reached in July 2024.
Khalilur will leave for New Delhi on Tuesday, accompanied by Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir, before heading to Mauritius. His meeting with Jaishankar is scheduled for April 8.
Indian High Commissioner Pranay Verma reiterated New Delhi’s intent to engage in a “positive, constructive and forward-looking manner” during a meeting with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Discussions covered cooperation in public health, trade, technology, connectivity and energy.
Dhaka is also expected to raise the possibility of the PM’s visit to India following an invitation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Separately, defence cooperation, including joint training, was discussed during talks between Bangladesh High Commissioner M Riaz Hamidullah and Indian Army chief Upendra Dwivedi in New Delhi, focusing on regional peace and security.