Despite a degree of diplomatic strain in India-Bangladesh relations following former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s recent public statements, Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi is scheduled to meet Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on August 10, government sources said.
According to sources in the Bangladesh government, Trivedi will “call on” Rahman during the meeting, which is expected to focus on strengthening bilateral ties and finalising a date for the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s proposed visit to India in the second week of September.
Trivedi’s request for a meeting with Rahman had reportedly been pending since July 1. The August 10 meeting will be the first formal interaction between the two since Rahman assumed office earlier this year.
Sources said Hasina’s public statements to Indian media have emerged as an “irritant” in bilateral relations. However, they maintained that other areas of cooperation between the two neighbours remain strong.
In a parallel engagement aimed at strengthening economic and energy cooperation, Trivedi recently held a nearly two-hour meeting with Bangladesh Energy Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud ‘Tuku’.
Bangladesh has sought India’s assistance in meeting its growing energy requirements, including the supply of 200,000 tonnes of diesel annually, according to government sources. Dhaka has also requested Indian support in around 25 areas of the energy sector, including power-grid technology transfer, smart-grid systems and training for power-sector personnel.
Trivedi is understood to have agreed in principle to long-term cooperation and assistance in the energy sector. Bangladesh’s energy infrastructure has faced mounting pressure amid disruptions to global energy supplies and difficulties affecting shipping and the availability of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The renewed diplomatic engagement comes after several weeks of uncertainty over the direction of India-Bangladesh relations. India remains Bangladesh’s largest regional trading partner and a major supplier of electricity and petroleum products, while the two countries also maintain cross-border energy and connectivity links.
The two neighbours operate multiple electricity interconnections, enabling Bangladesh to import power from India. Several joint infrastructure and connectivity projects have also continued despite recent political differences.
Diplomatic sources said both New Delhi and Dhaka are keen to ensure that political disagreements do not undermine cooperation in key areas such as trade, energy security, border management and regional connectivity.
Against the backdrop of Bangladesh’s economic and energy challenges, Rahman’s proposed visit to New Delhi in September is being viewed as an opportunity to stabilise bilateral relations and give fresh political direction to the India-Bangladesh partnership.
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