Despite widespread reports suggesting Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman will visit New Delhi next week though India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has yet to confirm the trip.
Diplomatic sources in Dhaka and Delhi indicate preparations are quietly underway for a bilateral visit likely scheduled for August 22-23. However, Indian MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated on Friday that he would provide updates only when there is definitive "progress." Jaiswal reiterated that New Delhi has invited the Bangladeshi premier for both a bilateral tour and the upcoming BRICS outreach session in September.
If it proceeds, this would mark Tarique's first trip to India since assuming office in February. Indian media reports suggest a crucial meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on the agenda, focusing on resetting bilateral relations through discussions on trade, energy, regional security and border management.
Recent high-level engagements of a meeting between the prime minister and Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi appear to have accelerated the planning process. Foreign Ministry sources indicate Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman is expected to accompany the prime minister to Delhi before departing for the UN General Assembly later this month.
Addressing Bangladesh's recent requests for additional power and energy amid its ongoing fuel crisis, Jaiswal confirmed that existing diesel supply arrangements remain active.
He noted that any supplementary requests will be carefully evaluated based on India's domestic refining capacity and internal requirements. As of now, both governments have refrained from issuing an official itinerary.
