Published : 23 Sep 2026, 01:28 AM
Updated : 23 Sep 2026, 01:28 AM
India wants to put its ties with Bangladesh on a “positive, constructive and forward-looking” footing.
And New Delhi is ready to discuss all bilateral issues through the existing mechanisms, according to a report from The Print.
Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal made the remarks on Tuesday.
He was asked about the state of relations between the two countries, including Bangladesh’s decision to send Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam as its next high commissioner.
The Print had reported last week that India was delaying formal approval for Siam’s appointment. India has since given its consent to the appointment.
Asked whether Siam’s appointment indicated that ties between the neighbours were “back on track”, Jaiswal said India had already made its position clear.
“On the trajectory of the bilateral relationship, we have said this in the past as well, India desires a positive, constructive and forward-looking relationship with Bangladesh,” Jaiswal was quoted as saying by The Print.
“We are ready to discuss all the issues within the structured mechanisms that we have right now. We want to take this relationship forward in a positive and constructive direction, in a forward-looking manner,” he said.
The question came as Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s possible visit to India has also drawn attention.
Reports have suggested Tarique could visit India in November. Bangladesh’s foreign ministry had earlier set three conditions for the proposed visit, prompting a journalist to ask whether Dhaka had sent any communication on the matter or withdrawn the conditions.
Jaiswal did not address those points directly.
Relations between Dhaka and New Delhi deteriorated after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League government on Aug 5, 2024, following a mass uprising, and the subsequent interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.
Discussions on improving ties began after the BNP government led by Tarique took office in February. The Narendra Modi government has since invited Tarique to India twice.
Uncertainty over a possible visit has persisted amid differences surrounding Hasina, who remains in India, including her political statements from there.
Tarique is currently in New York for the 81st UN General Assembly, where he is scheduled to address the session and hold bilateral and multilateral meetings.
A journalist also asked whether Tarique could meet Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who is leading India’s delegation at the UNGA.
“I do not have any information on whether the external affairs minister is going to have a meeting with the Bangladesh delegation, but I will keep you updated if there are any developments of this nature,” Jaiswal said.
Jaiswal was also asked whether Bangladesh Air Force participation in the upcoming multilateral air exercise Tarang Shakti reflected an improvement in bilateral ties.
Bangladesh is among seven foreign countries taking part in the exercise, which the Indian Air Force will host at Jodhpur Air Force Station from Sept 26 to Oct 12.
