Dhaka, Bangladesh – Amid escalating tensions following a controversial media event featuring ousted Bangladeshi leader Sheikh Hasina in Delhi last week, High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi held a significant meeting with Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka. This meeting came on the heels of the Indian ambassador’s discussions with Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister, Dr. Khalilur Rahman, and Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister, Humayun Kabir.
India has extended an invitation to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to attend the upcoming BRICS summit next month, recognizing Bangladesh’s current chairmanship of BIMSTEC (The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation).
The press interaction by former Premier Hasina at an event organized by the Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia in New Delhi has ignited a strong reaction from Bangladesh, casting a shadow over the otherwise improving India-Bangladesh ties. Dhaka has vociferously labeled the event as an affront to its sovereignty. In response, New Delhi maintains that it had no role in the organization of the event and does not endorse the statements made during the press meet. The Ministry of External Affairs affirmed that the program was arranged by a private entity, and the Indian government had "no involvement in the event" nor did it endorse the views expressed.
Despite India’s clarification, this incident has introduced another layer of strain into the Dhaka-New Delhi relationship, which is already complicated by Bangladesh’s persistent request for Hasina’s extradition. Hasina sought refuge in India in 2024 after student-led protests led to her removal from power, and she has remained in exile since. In 2025, a Bangladeshi court sentenced her to death on charges of crimes against humanity for her alleged role in a crackdown on the uprising, an event which a United Nations report stated resulted in nearly 1,400 deaths. Hasina vehemently denies any wrongdoing. Bangladesh has repeatedly sought her extradition, but India has thus far declined the request.
In the midst of these diplomatic challenges, the Indian envoy to Bangladesh has adopted a conciliatory tone and expressed support for Prime Minister Rahman. Speaking at the inauguration of a play area for children of visa applicants at the Indian Visa Application Centre in Dhaka, Dinesh Trivedi conveyed his confidence in the enduring relationship between New Delhi and Dhaka.
"The Prime Minister of Bangladesh… we all respect him a lot. I have listened to his speeches many times, and he talks from his heart. This, I have seen. He is a people’s person. And our prime minister is also of the people," Trivedi told reporters.
The Indian envoy emphasized that dialogue remains the crucial path forward, stating that “problems are sorted out when we talk to each other."
He further added, "I feel that when… when two leaders meet, a lot of problems are solved. Problems are sorted out when we talk to each other. And I have full confidence that people are together, and a solution will definitely happen… it will happen. I am very confident. There is nothing negative here; everything is positive."
