Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman left Dhaka for New Delhi on Tuesday afternoon for a three-day goodwill visit aimed at enhancing Bangladesh-India relations based on dignity, mutual trust, and shared interests. This marks the first visit to Delhi by a Bangladeshi minister since the BNP government assumed office.
On arrival, Dr Khalilur Rahman will meet India's National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and on Wednesday is scheduled to hold talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, according to Mahbubul Alam, director general of the Public Diplomacy wing at the Foreign Ministry. Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir is accompanying him.
The minister is en route to Mauritius to participate in the Indian Ocean Conference, scheduled for April 10-12, and will use the stopover in New Delhi to hold these courtesy
meetings.
The discussions are expected to focus on energy cooperation, including cross-border power trade and fuel supply, as well as broader efforts to strengthen connectivity, trade, and economic integration. Bangladesh will also raise the issue of water-sharing of common rivers, including the long-pending Teesta agreement, and discuss the upcoming renewal of the Ganges Water Treaty, due to expire later this year.
Trade facilitation measures, such as easing non-tariff barriers and improving logistics connectivity, are also on the agenda as both countries seek to unlock greater economic potential. The visit comes in a new political context, with Dhaka aiming to elevate previously strained ties to a mutually beneficial "win-win" footing, guided by a "Bangladesh first" approach.
Legal cooperation is another focus. 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.
Visa facilitation for Bangladeshi nationals, particularly for medical tourism, will also feature in the talks. Border management is expected to receive significant attention, with Bangladesh stressing the need to prevent loss of life along the frontier and calling for stronger coordination.
The visit is expected to strengthen cooperation across multiple sectors and elevate Bangladesh-India relations to a more productive and sustainable level in the coming years.
