After Dinner With NSA, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman Meets Jaishankar, Discuss Bilateral Ties
Khalilur Rahman arrived in India on April 7, ending 17-month-long cold phase in bilateral ties between the neighbouring countries. Image courtesy: RNA
In a significant diplomatic development, Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday (April 7, 2026) for his first high-level bilateral visit to India in more than a year, signalling a cautious but clear attempt by both sides to rebuild strained ties. This is Rahman’s first India visit after taking over as Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister.
His visit comes at a pivotal moment, following political changes in Dhaka and lingering tensions after the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government in 2024. With both countries now seeking to stabilise relations, Rahman’s tightly coordinated visit is being seen as a key step towards resetting engagement.
Why is Khalilur Rahman’s India visit significant now?
Khalilur Rahman’s visit marks the first time Delhi has hosted a Bangladesh Foreign Minister at Hyderabad House since the political upheaval in Dhaka in August 2024.
While Rahman had visited India in November 2025 for a regional meeting in his earlier role as National Security Advisor, this is his first full-fledged bilateral engagement as Foreign Minister under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s government. The timing is crucial as India-Bangladesh ties remain in a fragile recovery phase.
Both sides are now looking to normalise diplomatic and economic relations, especially at a time when regional geopolitical shifts are pushing for stronger neighbourhood cooperation. In the past, India has always stepped up whenever its Eastern neighbour needed, as part of its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy.
Rahman’s visit, though officially described as “official”, was planned discreetly, reflecting the sensitivity surrounding the current state of ties.
Who did Khalilur Rahman meet during his Delhi visit?
Rahman’s visit featured a packed schedule of high-level engagements with India’s top leadership. Following his arrival in New Delhi, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval hosted Rahman for a dinner meeting on April 7, marking the beginning of official interactions.
Rahman met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday (April 8, 2026) for formal talks, as the latter hosted a lunch at Hyderabad House for his Bangladeshi counterpart.
“Pleased to host FM Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh and his delegation this afternoon. We discussed strengthening our bilateral relationship in its various facets. Also exchanged views on regional and global developments. Agreed to remain in close touch,” EAM Jaishankar wrote on X after meeting his Bangladesh counterpart.
During his 3-day India visit, Rahman is also scheduled to meet Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. He is accompanied by Humayun Kobir, Foreign Affairs Advisor to Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman.
What key issues were on the table?
The discussions between the two sides are expected to cover a wide range of critical bilateral concerns, including water-sharing issues, particularly related to the Ganga; energy cooperation and supply stability; trade barriers, especially restrictions affecting Bangladesh’s apparel exports; normalisation of visa processes impacting people-to-people ties.
Bangladesh is also expected to raise concerns over restrictive measures imposed by India between April and June 2025, which impacted its export sector.
What did India say about the visit?
Welcoming the Bangladesh Foreign Minister, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal подчеркed the importance of the relationship: “India and Bangladesh share warm and historic ties anchored in strong people-to-people relations. The visit will further bolster India-Bangladesh partnership.”
Relations between the two countries deteriorated significantly after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government on August 5, 2024. The friction was mainly caused by Hasina’s continued presence in India after fleeing Dhaka, along with threats to Indian diplomatic missions and visa centres in Bangladesh.
The visit comes weeks after Prime Minister Tarique Rahman assumed office on February 17, 2026, following a landslide electoral victory. Under the new government, Dhaka is seeking to rebalance its foreign policy, with a visible push to normalise ties with India. Engagement is being recalibrated around mutual interests.
After concluding his India visit on April 9, Khalilur Rahman is set to travel to Mauritius to attend the Indian Ocean Conference, highlighting Bangladesh’s continued engagement in regional forums.
