Jaishankar meets outgoing Bangladesh envoy Riaz Hamidullah, lauds bilateral role
Synopsis
A week of intense India-Bangladesh diplomatic activity culminated in EAM Jaishankar's farewell meeting with outgoing envoy Riaz Hamidullah on 4 October 2026 — coming just days after India's High Commissioner in Dhaka held back-to-back meetings with two Bangladeshi ministers. New Delhi's public messaging has been consistent: it wants a 'positive, constructive and forward-looking' relationship, and it is ready to talk.
Key Takeaways
Jaishankar met Bangladesh's outgoing High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah in New Delhi on 4 October 2026 for a farewell call.
Jaishankar posted on X , appreciating Hamidullah's contribution and wishing him well in future endeavours.
Riaz Hamidullah had served as Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India since April 2025 , previously holding the post of Secretary (West) in Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
India's High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi met Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on 30 September 2026 and Minister of Liberation War Affairs Ahmed Aazam Khan on 1 October 2026 in Dhaka .
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on 22 September 2026 reiterated that India seeks a 'positive, constructive and forward-looking relationship' with Bangladesh.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday, 4 October 2026, met Riaz Hamidullah, Bangladesh's outgoing High Commissioner to India, in New Delhi for a farewell call, and acknowledged his contributions to strengthening India-Bangladesh bilateral ties.
Jaishankar's Remarks on the Farewell Meeting
Following the meeting, Jaishankar posted on X: 'Pleased to received Bangladesh High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah for a farewell call. Appreciate his contribution and wish him all the best in future endeavours.' Hamidullah had assumed charge as Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India in April 2025, prior to which he served as Secretary (West) in Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
A Busy Week of India-Bangladesh Diplomatic Engagement
The farewell meeting follows a string of high-level diplomatic interactions between the two neighbours. On 30 September 2026, India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, met Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir in Dhaka, where discussions focused on deepening bilateral engagement and advancing cooperation for mutual benefit.
The Indian High Commission in Dhaka confirmed the meeting on X, stating that Trivedi 'conveyed congratulations on his assumption of charge as the State Minister' and that 'the discussion focused on continued cooperation between the two neighbouring countries, for mutually beneficial outcomes for the peoples of India and Bangladesh.'
A day later, on 1 October 2026, Trivedi also met Bangladesh's Minister of Liberation War Affairs, Ahmed Aazam Khan, in Dhaka. The two sides 'exchanged views on matters of mutual interest and reaffirmed the longstanding ties and cooperation between India and Bangladesh,' according to the Indian High Commission.
India's Stated Position on the Bilateral Relationship
On 22 September 2026, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India's intent at a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi. 'India desires a positive, constructive and forward-looking relationship with Bangladesh. And, we are ready to discuss all issues, bilateral issues, within the structured mechanisms that we have right now. So that is our intent,' Jaiswal said.
This affirmation came amid a period of recalibration in India-Bangladesh ties, with New Delhi signalling openness to dialogue on all outstanding bilateral issues through established channels.
Context and What to Watch
The diplomatic activity comes at a notably active juncture for India-Bangladesh relations, with multiple ministerial-level interactions logged within a single week. Notably, the flurry of meetings — spanning foreign affairs, liberation war affairs, and the outgoing envoy's farewell — suggests both sides are keen to maintain institutional continuity and momentum in the relationship. The appointment of Hamidullah's successor will be a key development to watch as ties continue to evolve.
Point of View
Liberation war affairs, and a high-profile envoy farewell all within a single week — signal that both New Delhi and Dhaka are working to keep institutional channels warm, even as the broader bilateral relationship navigates a period of recalibration. What is notable is India's deliberate use of public messaging: the MEA's 'positive, constructive and forward-looking' formulation, repeated across briefings and social media, reads less like boilerplate and more like a calibrated signal. The real test will be who Dhaka sends as Hamidullah's successor and whether the momentum generated at the working level translates into movement on substantive bilateral issues.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did EAM Jaishankar meet Bangladesh's High Commissioner Riaz Hamidullah?
Jaishankar met Hamidullah on 4 October 2026 in New Delhi for a farewell call, as Hamidullah is departing his post as Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India. The EAM appreciated his contribution to India-Bangladesh bilateral ties and wished him well.
Who is Riaz Hamidullah and how long did he serve as Bangladesh's envoy to India?
Riaz Hamidullah assumed charge as Bangladesh's High Commissioner to India in April 2025. Prior to this posting, he served as Secretary (West) in Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
What other diplomatic meetings between India and Bangladesh took place this week?
India's High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi met Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir on 30 September 2026, and Minister of Liberation War Affairs Ahmed Aazam Khan on 1 October 2026, both in Dhaka. Both meetings focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation.
What is India's current stated position on its relationship with Bangladesh?
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated on 22 September 2026 that India desires a 'positive, constructive and forward-looking relationship with Bangladesh' and is ready to discuss all bilateral issues within existing structured mechanisms.
What is the significance of these diplomatic interactions for India-Bangladesh ties?
The flurry of high-level meetings within a single week signals both countries are keen to maintain institutional continuity and momentum. The appointment of a new Bangladeshi High Commissioner to India will be closely watched as an indicator of the direction bilateral ties are heading.
