DHAKA : Bangladesh will raise key bilateral concerns including extradition, trade, water sharing and border security during the Foreign Minister’s upcoming visit to India, aiming to restore ties on the basis of mutual respect and mutual gains.
Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman is set to visit New Delhi on Tuesday on what Dhaka describes as a “goodwill visit,” though officials indicated that the trip will involve substantive engagements to advance Bangladesh’s priorities.
During the visit, Rahman is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar, alongside separate meetings with National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
The trip will mark the first visit to Delhi by a Bangladeshi minister since the BNP government assumed office.
Officials said the visit comes in a new political context, with Dhaka seeking to elevate previously strained ties with New Delhi to a mutually beneficial, win-win footing, guided by a “Bangladesh first” approach.
Bangladesh will reiterate its request for the extradition of deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina and other accused individuals, including Faisal Karim Masud, in connection with the killing of Shahid Sharif Osman Bin Hadi.
“It may take time but we want to see their return as soon as possible,” a top official said, underscoring Dhaka’s continued emphasis on legal cooperation.
Dhaka is also expected to urge India to adopt a more positive approach towards the full resumption of visa services for Bangladeshi nationals, noting the potential benefits of medical tourism.
Border management will feature prominently in the discussions, with Bangladesh stressing that it does not want to see any loss of life along the frontier and calling for enhanced coordination to maintain stability.
The two sides are also likely to discuss energy cooperation, including cross-border power trade and fuel supply, alongside broader efforts to strengthen connectivity and economic integration.
Water-sharing of common rivers, including the long-pending Teesta agreement, is expected to be raised as a key issue, while renewal of the Ganges Water Treaty, due to expire later this year, may also come up during the talks.
Trade facilitation measures, including easing non-tariff barriers and improving logistics connectivity, are also on the agenda as both countries seek to unlock greater economic potential.
The foreign minister is scheduled to depart for New Delhi on Tuesday afternoon before travelling to Mauritius to attend the Indian Ocean Conference, accompanied by Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir during the India leg of the visit.
The Indian Ocean Conference will be held in Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, from April 10 to April 12.
