India-Bangladesh ties: Envoy Trivedi confident Modi-Rahman meet can resolve bilateral issues
Synopsis
India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh has gone on record saying a Modi-Rahman summit could unlock bilateral solutions — and the BRICS outreach invitation to Dhaka for September may be exactly that opening. After months of diplomatic recalibration, New Delhi appears to be methodically laying the groundwork for a high-level reset with its eastern neighbour.
Key Takeaways
High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi on 9 August expressed confidence that a Modi-Rahman meeting could resolve India-Bangladesh bilateral issues.
Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman has been invited to the outreach session of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi in September 2026 as current BIMSTEC Chair.
A formal invitation to visit India was extended to Rahman after he assumed office in February 2026 , according to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal .
On 29 July , Trivedi met Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman , reaffirming India's commitment to a 'positive, constructive and forward-looking partnership.' Trivedi also held separate talks with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on strengthening bilateral cooperation.
India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi, on Sunday, 9 August, expressed strong optimism that a direct meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman could help resolve outstanding bilateral issues. Trivedi made the remarks while speaking to reporters in Dhaka after inaugurating a 'Children Playing Area' at the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC).
What the High Commissioner Said
Describing both leaders as 'people's persons,' Trivedi said he had followed Rahman's public addresses closely. 'I listened to his speeches many times… He is a people's person, our Prime Minister (Modi), too. I think when two leaders meet, a lot of problems are sorted out. I have full confidence,' he told reporters, according to Bangladeshi media outlet United News of Bangladesh (UNB).
Trivedi was equally emphatic about the overall bilateral mood. 'I am very confident. There is nothing negative. Things remain positive,' he said, adding that the people of both nations are united and a solution is firmly within reach.
BRICS Outreach Invitation to Rahman
The High Commissioner's remarks follow a significant diplomatic signal from New Delhi. On Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that Bangladesh Prime Minister Rahman has been invited to attend the outreach session of the 18th BRICS Summit, scheduled in New Delhi in September. Rahman has been invited in his capacity as the current Chair of BIMSTEC — the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation.
BIMSTEC is a seven-nation grouping covering the littoral and adjacent areas of the Bay of Bengal, comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand. The MEA describes it as a unique bridge connecting South Asia with South-East Asia.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, addressing a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi, noted that a formal invitation to visit India had already been extended to Rahman after he assumed office in February 2026. Jaiswal added that other heads of regional groupings had been extended similar invitations.
Recent Diplomatic Groundwork
The upbeat tone from Trivedi builds on a series of recent bilateral engagements. On 29 July, the High Commissioner met Bangladesh's Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman and reaffirmed India's commitment to a 'positive, constructive and forward-looking partnership' with Dhaka, rooted in mutual interest and mutual benefit.
The High Commission of India shared details of the meeting on X, stating that discussions centred on 'deepening people-centric cooperation across all sectors.' Trivedi separately held talks with Bangladesh's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, focusing on strengthening bilateral ties across multiple domains.
Why This Moment Matters
India-Bangladesh relations have navigated a period of recalibration following political transitions in Dhaka. Trivedi's public optimism, the BRICS outreach invitation, and the back-to-back diplomatic meetings signal that both sides are actively working to rebuild momentum. A potential Modi-Rahman summit, if it materialises on the sidelines of the BRICS outreach session in September, could mark the most substantive high-level engagement between the two neighbours in recent years.
Whether the diplomatic goodwill translates into progress on longstanding issues — including water-sharing, trade facilitation, and border management — will be the real measure of this renewed engagement.
Point of View
Not spontaneous candour — high commissioners rarely freelance on bilateral confidence. The BRICS outreach invitation to Rahman is the structural move; Trivedi's remarks are the atmospheric preparation. What is notable is how carefully New Delhi is managing optics: the invitation is framed through BIMSTEC, giving both sides a multilateral cover that reduces the political cost of a bilateral reset. The harder question is whether a Modi-Rahman handshake in September can translate into movement on the substantive irritants — water-sharing, the Teesta agreement, trade asymmetries — that have strained ties for years. Diplomatic warmth without deliverables has a short shelf life in South Asia.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did India's High Commissioner say about a Modi-Rahman meeting?
High Commissioner Dinesh Trivedi said he was fully confident that a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman could resolve bilateral problems. He described both leaders as 'people's persons' and said things between the two countries remain positive.
Has Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman been invited to India?
Yes. India has invited Rahman to attend the outreach session of the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi in September 2026, in his capacity as the current Chair of BIMSTEC. A formal bilateral invitation was also extended after he assumed office in February 2026.
What is BIMSTEC and why is it relevant here?
BIMSTEC — the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation — is a seven-nation grouping comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand. Rahman chairs the group, which is why New Delhi has used this platform to extend the BRICS outreach invitation to him.
What recent diplomatic meetings have taken place between India and Bangladesh?
On 29 July, High Commissioner Trivedi met Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, reaffirming India's commitment to a constructive partnership. Trivedi also separately met State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam to discuss strengthening bilateral ties.
What bilateral issues are India and Bangladesh seeking to resolve?
The source does not detail specific issues, but Trivedi's remarks suggest a range of unresolved matters between the two neighbours. India has publicly framed its approach as seeking a 'positive, constructive and forward-looking partnership' rooted in mutual interest and people-centric cooperation.
