Modi-Trivedi meet as Dhaka, Delhi revive talks over Tarique’s India visit: reports

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a “very good” and lengthy meeting with India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi amid renewed talks over Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s delayed visit to New Delhi, The Hindu and Ground News reported.

Trivedi travelled to New Delhi for a three-day consultation and met Modi on Wednesday, according to diplomatic sources cited in the reports. The details of their discussion were not immediately disclosed.

The meeting comes as Dhaka and New Delhi have resumed discussions on Tarique’s proposed India visit after talks were disrupted following former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s public appearance in India on August 5.

Earlier this week, Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kobir said Hasina and the activities of her Awami League in India were the “principal challenge” to arranging Tarique’s visit.

Responding to the remarks, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New Delhi remained committed to a “positive, constructive and forward-looking” relationship with Bangladesh.

India has also said it is ready to discuss bilateral issues through existing structured mechanisms, while stressing practical cooperation and shared economic progress between the two countries.

The latest diplomatic engagement comes amid efforts by both sides to improve relations following a prolonged period of tension after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in August 2024.

Tarique has so far visited Malaysia and China and attended the UN General Assembly in New York since becoming prime minister. He is also expected to visit Japan later this month, according to Bangladeshi diplomatic sources.

India has yet to feature on his travel schedule despite earlier invitations, including an invitation from Modi to attend the BRICS summit in New Delhi.

Indian and Bangladeshi officials have recently signalled a desire to prepare for a possible Tarique-Modi meeting. Last month, Trivedi said there was no need to rush the proposed visit and that the two sides should ensure proper preparations because issues including trade, commerce and water would need to be discussed.

Neither the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, India’s Ministry of External Affairs nor Modi’s office has publicly disclosed details of the latest Modi-Trivedi meeting.